Springfield man pleads guilty to area robberies

A Springfield man pleaded guilty in federal court to a series of violent robberies committed in Vermont and New Hampshire in 2015, according to the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont.

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2016-10-28 / Front Page http://www.vermonttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/RH/20161028/NEWS02/161029526 http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20161028/NEWS02/161029531 http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20161028/NEWS02/161029526/0/SEARCH Springfield man pleads guilty to area robberies BURLINGTON — A Springfield man pleaded guilty in federal court to a series of violent robberies committed in Vermont and New Hampshire in 2015, according to the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont. Matthew T. Martin, 32, of Springfield, appeared Thursday, Oct. 27 in federal court in Burlington to plead guilty to eight counts of robbery for incidents in Brattleboro, Ludlow, Springfield, and Bellows Falls in Vermont; and Charlestown and Loudon in New Hampshire. Under the terms of the proposed plea agreement—acceptance of which was deferred until sentencing proceedings on Feb. 1, 2017 in Brattleboro—Martin will be sentenced to 180 months (15 years) imprisonment if the court accepts the agreement. Under federal law, parole has been eliminated for federal defendants. On Dec. 14, 2015, Martin committed an armed robbery of a branch of the People’s United Bank in Brattleboro, Vermont. In committing this crime, Martin assaulted others by using a BB gun that resembled a firearm and by using a device that purported to be a bomb, according to court records. When robbing this bank, like in some of his other robberies, Martin disguised himself as a woman, making it harder for law enforcement to identify him. A week later, on Dec. 21, 2015, Martin committed an armed robbery, this time of a branch of the Heritage Family Credit Union in Ludlow, Vermont. Again, Martin assaulted others by using a dangerous weapon, specifically, a BB gun that resembled a firearm. Shortly thereafter, in late December 2015, Martin surrendered to law enforcement after the U.S. Marshals Service publicly named him a “Fugitive of the Week” based on outstanding arrest warrants and his ongoing crime spree. The December 2015 armed robberies committed by Martin were the latest in a string of violent crimes committed by Martin in 2015. On Jan. 28, 2015, Martin robbed a branch of the Windsor County South Credit Union in Springfield Vermont. During the commission of this robbery, Martin indicated to the teller that he had a gun, although he did not display a firearm. On Feb. 7, 2015, Martin robbed a Shell gas station in Ludlow, Vermont. During the commission of this robbery, Martin pointed a firearm at the gas station clerk. On Feb. 17, 2015, Martin robbed a branch of the Citizens Bank in Springfield, Vermont. During the commission of this robbery, Martin again indicated that he had a gun, although he did not display a firearm. On Nov. 11, 2015, Martin robbed the Greater Falls Pharmacy in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Again, Martin indicated that he had a gun, although he did not display one. On Dec. 1, 2015, Martin took his crime spree into New Hampshire, committing an armed robbery of a branch of the Mascoma Savings Bank in Charlestown, New Hampshire. During this robbery, Martin assaulted others by displaying a BB gun that resembled a firearm. On Dec. 4, 2015, Martin committed an armed robbery at a branch of the TD Bank North in Loudon, New Hampshire. Again, Martin assaulted others by displaying a BB gun that resembled a firearm. The collaborative team that investigated the crimes committed by Martin included federal, state, and local law enforcement agents, including agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Vermont State Police; the New Hampshire State Police; and the police departments of Brattleboro, Springfield, Ludlow, and Bellows Falls. In addition to the agents that investigated Martin’s crimes, United States Attorney Eric Miller also thanked law enforcement partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire; the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office; the Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office; the County Attorney’s Office in Sullivan County, New Hampshire; and the County Attorney’s Office in Merrimack County, New Hampshire.