BOSTON (WHDH) - A man accused of robbing two banks in Boston, and attempting to rob another, was arrested this week and is being held on $50,000 bail, according to law officials.
William Sequeira of Providence, R.I., is facing two counts of Armed Robbery of a Bank and one count of Attempted Armed Robbery of a Bank, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The 59-year-old was caught on Wednesday, Oct. 5, after members of a crime task force spotted him allegedly trying to rob a Citizens Bank on Boylston Street.
A press release from the DA’s office detailed how task force members saw Sequeira walk up to several bank tellers’ desks, telling employees “give me hundreds” before placing him under arrest.
The bank had been under surveillance by the task force a week after similar robberies occurred on Sept. 27 and 28, when a suspect resembling Sequeira hit the Santander Bank on Berkeley Street and an M&T Bank on Boylston Street, respectively.
In the first robbery, the suspect, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and white mask, allegedly told a teller “give me a hundred dollar bill or I’ll shoot you.” No weapons were shown during the incident and the suspect was able to leave with $500.
The next day, on Boylston Street, a man entered the M&T bank, telling employees “I’m going to put a gun to your head if you don’t give me $100 bills” before making off with $388.
Sequeira, who has served sentences for bank robbery charges in the past, appeared in Boston Municipal Court Central after his arrest, and was ordered held on $50,000 bail. A judge also ordered him to stay away from Boston and away from the aforementioned banks.
“This is a person who has clearly not learned from his prior arrests and convictions,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. “Thanks to diligent investigative work he was apprehended before anyone got injured.”
Sequeira will return to court Nov. 3 for a pre-trial hearing.
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