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Three arrested in Swansea armed robbery of more than $400K after earlier wrong arrest
The courier who was robbed was carrying more than $436,000 from licensed cannabis companies, prosecutors said.
Three men were arrested Wednesday in connection to an armed robbery in Swansea earlier this year, prosecutors announced, after police initially arrested a Randolph man before dropping all charges against him in March.
Prosecutors said that 38-year-old Steven Madison of Bridgewater, 37-year-old Christopher White of Raynham, and 35-year-old Quentin McDonald of Brockton robbed a courier for cannabis companies at gunpoint, zip-tied, and pepper strayed him before burning their stolen getaway car.
Each man is facing federal charges of conspiracy, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of arson of property used in the Hobbs Act robbery — which relates to interfering with interstate commerce. Madison and White are also charged with firearm possession while being a felon. The three men will be in court next week.
The February robbery
Two men stole a U-Haul van early on Feb. 19 in Abington, prosecutors said, before heading to a bank in Swansea. There, the two men pulled up alongside the courier, who was carrying about $436,200 in cash to deposit from licensed cannabis companies.
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A masked man allegedly pointed a firearm at the courier and tied his hands behind his back. The second man allegedly loaded the cash into the vehicle. The two men tried to disarm the courier, forced him into the backseat of his vehicle, and shut the door, prosecutors said.
The courier removed one hand from his restraints and fired four shots at the U-Haul van fleeing from the Swansea bank. He then called 911, prosecutors said.
The two men drove to another location in Swansea and met with the third man driving their getaway SUV, prosecutors said. They transferred the cash to the vehicle and burned the U-Haul.
Charges brought against Randolph man, then dropped
A 29-year-old man from Randolph was arrested after investigators thought the two suspects switched to his Jeep after burning the U-Haul, prior reports show. Rhode Island State Police stopped him driving a Jeep nearby, and he was the only person in the car.
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The eight charges against the Randolph man — including armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault and battery‚ were dropped in March.
“There is a significant difference we believe in the two types of vehicles,” his defense attorney said in court at the time, “the one my client was stopped in and the one that was used in the robbery.”
A spokesperson for the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office released a statement to WPRI at the time saying that the man “was not present during the commissioning of the crime.” Swansea police told Boston.com in March that their investigation was “very active” after the charges were dropped.
Three arrested Wednesday face decades in prison
Prosecutors said their investigation then led to Madison, White, and McDonalds. Investigators searched Madison’s Bridgewater residence Wednesday morning, where they allegedly found $5,000 or more in cash, a $47,000 Rolex, a firearm, ammunition, and a sweatshirt similar to one worn by the robbers.
Officials next searched White’s Raynham residence, where they allegedly found zip-ties, a firearm, ammunition, and a black mask similar to one worn in the robbery.
The trio is facing decades in prison. The charge of the Hobbs Act could result in up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The arson fine carries a minimum sentence of five and up to 20 years in prison, three years supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy could result in up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
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For Madison and White, being a felon found in possession of a firearm could result in up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
The men are in custody until a hearing scheduled for May 13.
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