Fall River man sentenced to prison for Boston, Fall River bank robberies, claims over 100 heists

BOSTON – A Fall River man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for robbing four separate banks in Massachusetts within a five-day period and attempting to rob a fifth bank.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 60-year-old William Sequeira was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On June 22, 2023, Sequeira pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery.

Between Sept. 26, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2022, Sequeira robbed four separate banks in the Fall River and Boston areas. On Sept. 26, 2022 at approximately 1:52 p.m., Sequeira entered the Stop & Shop on Rodman Street in Fall River. There, he approached the Citizens Bank counter and demanded money stating, “listen, this is what’s gonna happen, I have a gun and I’ll put it against your forehead.” On Sept. 27, 2022 at approximately 2:35 p.m., Sequeira entered the Santander Bank on located on Berkley Street in Boston and threatened to shoot the employees. Specifically, he ran up to a teller and stated, “give me a $100 bill or I’ll put a bullet in your head.” Sequeira did not present a firearm.

The next day, on Sept. 28, 2022 at approximately 4:01 p.m., Sequeira entered the M&T Bank located on Boylston Street in Boston, approached a teller and stated, “I’m going to put a gun to your head if you don’t give me the $100 bills.” On Sept. 30, 2022 at approximately 3:15 p.m., Sequeira entered the TD Bank located on Union Street in Boston. There, he told the teller, “give me all the $100s in the drawer,” and “give me all the money before I blow your brains out,” before fleeing on foot with money from the teller.

An investigation by law enforcement led to the identification of Sequeira as the suspect in each of the robberies. As a result, on Oct. 5, 2022, upon being informed that Sequeira was on a train enroute to Boston, law enforcement conducted surveillance in the Back Bay area suspecting that Sequeira was planning another robbery. Sequeira was subsequently spotted entering the Citizens Bank located on Boylston Street in Boston. There, he approached the teller, said “Give me hundreds,” and threatened to shoot the teller if they did not move fast enough. Sequeira was immediately apprehended.

Sequeira has previously stated that he has committed over 100 bank robberies and believes that he inspired the Ben Affleck movie ‘The Town”.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Fall River Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.