Stoughton Man Charged with Armed Bank Robbery

BOSTON—A Stoughton man was charged in federal court today with the armed robbery of an Eastern Bank in Peabody, earlier this week.

MARK LEPAGE, 47, was charged in a criminal complaint with armed bank robbery. The complaint alleges that on April 4, 2011, LEPAGE robbed an Eastern Bank branch, located at

102 Lynn Street

in Peabody, with a handgun. It is alleged that during the robbery, LEPAGE grabbed a customer and held the gun to the back of the customer’s head while demanding that the customer hand over all of the customer’s money. LEPAGE then allegedly pointed the gun at tellers in the bank and demanded money. After collecting money from the tellers, LEPAGE fled. LEPAGE was arrested by authorities last night.

If convicted, LEPAGE faces up to 25 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division; and Chief Robert L. Champagne of the Peabody Police Department made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

The details contained in the complaint affidavit are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.