United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

TWO HARTFORD MEN INDICTED FOR BRISTOL BANK ROBBERY

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging JOSEPH DAVIS, age 44, of 34 Ashley Street, Hartford, Connecticut, and MILTON WIGGINS, age 39, of 38 Burham Street, Hartford, with one count of armed bank robbery. Both DAVIS and WIGGINS were arrested in the last 48 hours through the combined efforts of the FBI, Bristol Police and Hartford Police.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated that this case arises out of a robbery of the Sovereign Bank in Bristol, Connecticut, that occurred on the morning of October 29, 2003. On that date, a masked man, alleged to be DAVIS, entered the vault area of the bank, ordered the tellers to fill two bags with cash, sprayed mace at a teller and exited the bank with $166,486. As the bank robber left the bank, he took the mask off and was photographed by a security camera. That photograph was published in media accounts published at the time of the robbery.

If convicted, both defendants face a term of incarceration of up to 25 years and could be fined as much as $250,000.

"Individuals who rob a bank do so without regard for the terror they instill in their victims, and they also believe they will never be caught," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "But the reality is that the vast majority of bank robbers are apprehended. The federal penalties for robbing a bank are severe, and this Office will prosecute these crimes to the fullest extent."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor complimented the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bristol Police and the Hartford Police. Assistant United States Attorney Raymond F. Miller is prosecuting this case.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov