United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

EMPLOYEE OF WESTPORT BANK PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL ROBBERY CHARGE

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PHONG PHAM, age 24, of 20 Mona Avenue, Branford, Connecticut, has pleaded guilty to robbing a Westport branch of the Hudson United Bank, where he was employed as a bank teller.

During proceedings yesterday, September 29, before United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport, PHAM admitted that on November 28, 2003, the day after Thanksgiving, he entered the Hudson United Bank, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a plastic bag over his head. PHAM further admitted that he brandished a kitchen knife as he approached one of the tellers and handed her a note demanding money. According to statements made by the Government in court, PHAM gestured with the knife in the direction of the bank’s vault. However, the teller only handed PHAM the approximately $8,000 contained in her teller drawer. The prosecutor further explained that on November 26, 2003, while working at the bank, PHAM entered the bank’s vault and stole $30,000. That same day, he stole an addition $19,400 from a teller drawer assigned to him.

When he is sentenced by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill on December 17, 2004, PHAM faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. PHAM has also agreed to pay full restitution to the bank.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Westport Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian E. Spears.

CONTACT:

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