News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
Peter F. Neronha
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island

October 27, 2010

WARWICK MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO ROBBING TWO BANKS

Providence, R.I. –  A Warwick man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Providence to an Indictment charging him with two counts of bank robbery. Andrew Shepard, 29, was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 20, 2010, of robbing branch offices of Citizens Bank in Cumberland and Lincoln. Shepard was ordered detained by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David L. Martin.

            The indictment and arraignment of Andrew Shepard was announced by U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office; Cumberland Police Chief John R. Desmarais; and Lincoln Police Chief Brian W. Sullivan.

            According to the two-count Indictment, it is alleged that Shepard robbed the Citizens Bank branch at Stop & Shop on Mendon Road in Cumberland on July 3rd of $991, and the Citizens Bank branch at the Lincoln Mall on July 10th of $3026. 

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie S. Browne, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Rogers. The matters were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cumberland Police and Lincoln Police.

 An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Bank robbery is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; and a $250,000 fine.

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Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov