October 12, 2007

MATTHEW MASKELL PLEADS GUILTY TO THREE
BACKWARD-BANDIT ROBBERIES

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Matthew Maskell, 27, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to three of the so-called “backward-bandit” convenience store robberies that occurred this past winter. Chief U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III ordered that Maskell remain incarcerated without bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for February 11, 2008.

Last month, a federal grand jury in Burlington handed up a superseding indictment which accused Maskell of conspiring with Ashley Penniman, Gerald LaFlam and Christopher Adams to obstruct or affect commerce by means of robbery. The indictment also accused Maskell of robbing the Hinesburg General Store on January 22, 2007; the Lucky Spot Variety Store in Richmond on January 25, 2007; the Champlain Farms Store in Colchester on January 28, 2007; and the Chittenden Mills Beverage Store in Jericho on January 29, 2007. Under the federal Hobbs Act, it is a violation of federal law for an individual to engage in a robbery which delays, obstructs or affects interstate commerce, or to conspire to do so.

In his guilty plea today, Maskell admitted that he committed the first three robberies, and that he used a pellet gun as a weapon. The charge relating to the fourth robbery will be dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Maskell faces a possible term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of $250,000 on each of the three counts. His actual sentence would be determined with reference to the federal advisory sentencing guidelines. Penniman, LaFlam and Adams have already pled guilty to offenses arising from the robberies and are awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson commends the cooperative effort of several law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation of these robberies, including the Burlington resident agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Vermont State Police; the Hinesburg Community Police Department; the Colchester Police Department; and the Chittenden County State’s Attorneys Office.

Maskell is represented by Burlington attorney Douglas Kallen. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Waples.