Robbery Getaway Driver Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY VITO, 28, formerly of Stoughton, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for serving as the getaway driver for an armed bank robbery and two commercial robberies in December 2017.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 8, 2017, Vito drove Anthony Provost to the Mobil Gas Station and Dunkin Donuts located at 750 Straits Turnpike in Middlebury.  Provost first threatened the cashier at the Mobil station with what appeared to be a firearm, and instructed her to open the cash register and provide her with all of its contents.  The cashier complied and provided him with $578.  The cashier also complied with Provost’s demand that she give him cigarettes valued at approximately $131.  Provost then went to the cashier at the Dunkin Donuts, lifted his shirt to display what appeared to be a firearm and demanded money.  During the robbery, when a customer entered the premises, Provost pointed the firearm at her and told her to keep her hands out of her pocketbook.  The cashier gave Provost approximately $350.  Provost then fled the premises in the vehicle driven by Vito.

Vito then drove Provost to the Thomaston Savings Bank located at 508 South Main Street in Thomaston.  At the bank, Provost handed the teller a note stating “Robbery 20’s, 50’s, 100’s, quiet.”  Provost also displayed what appeared to be a firearm.   After the teller gave him money, Provost told her to get money from the other teller.  The teller complied, and Provost left the bank with $1,471.  Provost and Vito then fled the scene.

On December 9, 2017, Provost was arrested by Waterbury Police officers in a motel room that was occupied by Vito and another individual.  At the scene, officers recovered a silver and beige handled CO-2 powered BB gun, a black ski mask, a gray ski mask, $542 in cash, and multiple packs of cigarettes.  Officers also seized a red Ford Explorer that had been used during several of the robberies.  Vito was arrested shortly thereafter.

Provost and Vito have been detained since their arrests.

On June 8, 2018, Vito pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting an armed bank robbery.

On April 26, 2018, Provost pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery and admitted that he committed these robberies and several others in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire late last year.  On July 19, 2018, he was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Waterbury, Southington, Thomaston, Putnam, Avon, Middlebury, Shrewsbury (Mass.) and Nashua (N.H.) Police Departments.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.