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Press Release

Massachusetts Man Suspected in Multiple Bank Robberies in New England Arrested

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

TAYLOR DZICZEK, 30, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was arrested today on federal criminal complaint charging him with robbing a Connecticut bank earlier this year.  As alleged in the complaint, Dziczek is also a suspect is several additional bank robberies that have occurred in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire since September 2021.

Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI’s New Haven Division, Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta of the FBI’s Boston Division, and Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi of the FBI’s Albany Division.

Dziczek appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was ordered detained.

As alleged in the complaint, the FBI and state and local law enforcement have been investigating 14 robberies and one attempted robbery of banks and credit unions in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire, which were committed by what appears to be the same individual, that occurred between September 2021 and August 2022.  During the investigation, Dziczek was identified as a suspect who robbed the Peoples United Bank, located at 117 East Street in Plainville, Connecticut, on May 26, 2022.  On that date, Dziczek entered the bank, approached the teller counter and gave the teller a note stating words to the effect of, “I have a gun. Don‘t call 911. Don‘t set off any alarms.“  When the teller stated she did not have any more money, Dziczek pulled what appeared to be a black firearm from the front pocket of his sweatshirt and made additional statements including “Give me all the money,” “I have a gun,” and “Don‘t be a hero.”

It is alleged that Dziczek removed some of the paper money wrappers from the money he received from the teller and discarded them at the bank before he fled the scene.   Plainville Police detectives collected the discarded money wrappers as evidence. 

It is further alleged that on October 21, 2022, FBI special agents surveilled Dziczek while he was in the MGM Casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, and retrieved a Red Bull energy drink can with a black straw from which Dziczek was observed drinking.  Laboratory analysis connected DNA found on the black straw to DNA found on discarded money wrappers from the Plainville bank robbery.

The charge of bank robbery carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI New Haven Division’s Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Boston Division, FBI Albany Division, Connecticut State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Athol (Mass.) Police Department, Avon (Conn.) Police Department, Brattleboro (Vt.) Police Department, Chicopee (Mass.) Police Department, East Windsor (Conn.) Police Department, Enfield (Conn.) Police Department, Greenfield (Mass.) Police Department, Keene (N.H.) Police Department, Meriden (Conn.) Police Department, Montague (Mass.) Police Department, Nashua (N.H.) Police Department, Plainville (Conn.) Police Department, Somers (Conn.) Police Department, and Springfield (Mass.) Police Department.  The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services has provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings, Stephanie T. Levick and Nancy V. Gifford.  U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

Updated December 1, 2022

Topic
Violent Crime