Malden Man Indicted for Bank Robbery Spree
WOBURN– A Malden man has been indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury in connection with several bank robberies across the county, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan informed the public today.
John Freni, 28, of Malden was indicted on charges of unarmed robbery (five counts) and intimidation to steal from a bank (five counts).
The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned in Lowell Superior Court on December 17, 2013.
“With these charges, we allege that this defendant, over the course of 3 weeks, robbed banks across Middlesex County, putting bank employees in fear for their safety,” District Attorney Ryan said. “I commend the efforts of the Billerica, Dracut, Everett, Tewksbury, and Wilmington police officers, who working together, followed the evidence, and identified this defendant.”
According to authorities, investigations into several bank robberies in neighboring Middlesex County towns allegedly revealed that the defendant, exhibiting a similar pattern of conduct and wearing similar clothing and accessories, was the person responsible.
The following allegations are made:
On September 14, 2013 the defendant entered the TD Bank at 499 Boston Road in Billerica, showed the teller a note demanding money and left the bank with almost $600.
On September 19, 2013 the defendant entered the TD Bank at 1255 Bridge Street in Dracut, showed the teller a note demanding money and left the bank with approximately $1800.
On September 23, 2013 the defendant entered the Eastern Bank at 370 Main Street in Wilmington, showed the teller a note demanding money and left the bank with $3800.
On October 1, 2013 the defendant entered the Eastern Bank at 1800 Main Street in Tewksbury, showed the teller a note demanding money and left the bank with over $3200.
On October 7, 2013 the defendant entered the Eastern Bank at 738 Broadway in Everett, showed the teller a note demanding money and left the bank with over $1200.
These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Billerica, Dracut, Everett, Tewksbury and Wilmington Police Departments, and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Ryan Sullivan. The Victim Witness Advocate is Dora Quiroz.