Connecticut Bank Robber Sentenced to Nearly 9 Years in Prison

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRYCE ALEXANDER LAISTER, 26, formerly of Bridgeport and Stratford, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 107 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for robbing five Connecticut banks between November 2016 and June 2017.

According to court documents and statements made in court, LAISTER robbed the Webster Bank at 314 Merwin Avenue in Milford on November 30, 2016; the Key Bank at 133 East Main Street in Plainville on April 7, 2017; the Key Bank at 1328 Boston Post Road in Westbrook on May 5, 2017; the People’s United Bank located inside the Stop and Shop at 898 Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton on May 30, 2017, and the People’s United Bank located inside the Stop and Shop at 112 Amity Road in New Haven on June 10, 2017.

During the Shelton robbery, LAISTER brandished a pistol, and during the Plainville and Westbrook robberies, LAISTER threatened to kill or shoot bank employees if they did not comply with his demands.

LAISTER was located and arrested in Stratford on June 15, 2017, after he engaged in a two-hour standoff with local and federal law enforcement officers.  At the time of his arrest, LAISTER possessed a .380 caliber pistol and a magazine loaded with two bullets.  A subsequent search one of LAISTER’s vehicles revealed clothing he wore during the robbery on June 10, a makeup kit he used to disguise his features, and a Stop and Shop circular.

Judge Covello ordered LAISTER to make restitution of $25,279 to the victim banks.

LAISTER has been detained since his arrest.  On February 22, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery.

LAISTER’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics, larceny and burglary offenses.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and the Milford, Plainville, Shelton, New Haven and Stratford Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.