A Lancaster man has pleaded guilty to bank robberies at two Avidia Bank branches and a Cornerstone Bank branch.
Matthew Alden, 26, pleaded guilty in Worcester federal court on Friday to three counts of bank robbery, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.
According to the statement, Alden entered the Cornerstone Bank on South Main Street in Leicester on Dec. 12, 2019, and made statements to the bank tellers such as, “give me all the money,” “no dye packs,” and “I’m not going to hurt anyone.” Alden stole $9,906, placed the cash into a black drawstring bag and fled the scene.
About two weeks later, Alden entered the Avidia Savings Bank on Maple Street in Marlborough and told the tellers, “Give me all your money so no one gets hurt. No dye packs, no GPS, no banded cash,” according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Alden stole $3,390, which he placed into a black drawstring bag before fleeing the scene.
Alden entered another Avidia Bank, on Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, on Feb. 21, according to the statement. He told the tellers, “Give me all the money,” and stole $1,028.
Federal agents on Feb. 26 arrested Alden, who had a notepad with a list of 12 banks in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and their closing times on Thursdays and Fridays.
A search warrant executed at Alden’s house recovered clothing identical to what was worn during the robberies, according to the statement.
Sentencing was scheduled for April 8. The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.