Douglas Allen Pleads Not Guilty To Merchants Bank Robbery

The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Douglas Allen, 58, of Burlington, pleaded not guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge of bank robbery. U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy ordered that Allen be detained pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

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 which asked for $6000. The teller gave the robber approximately $1780. 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 for robbery last week.

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge in the indictment is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.

If convicted, Allen faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.

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