Douglas Allen Imprisoned For Merchants Bank Robbery

The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Douglas Allen, 59, of Burlington, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to 46 months of imprisonment following his guilty plea to a charge of bank robbery. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered that Allen serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison term and pay restitution in the amount of $1635. Allen has been in custody since his arrest last year.

According to court records, on May 21, 2016, a man wearing a hat and sunglasses entered the College Street branch of Merchants Bank in Burlington and presented the teller with a note that asked for $6000. The teller gave the robber approximately $1740. Burlington Police officers arrested Allen five days later, on May 26, after receiving several tips from persons who were able to identify Allen from bank surveillance pictures. Allen was originally charged in state court with grand larceny, but that charge was dismissed after a federal grand jury indicted Allen last July.

Allen has a previous federal court conviction in Vermont for bank robbery.

Allen is represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.