Career Offender Pleads Guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery

Admits to Robbing Restaurant Employee Attempting to Make Bank Deposit

PROVIDENCE, RI—Frederick Burdick, 25, of Warwick, faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the robbery at gunpoint of a North Kingstown restaurant employee who was attempting to deposit business proceeds into a bank night deposit box. Burdick pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery.

Burdick’s guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and North Kingstown Police Chief Thomas J. Mulligan.

According to information presented to the court, on January 10, 2012, Burdick, wearing dark clothing and a ski mask, positioned himself between the bank’s night deposit box and the employee’s vehicle, forced the car window open at gunpoint, and struck the driver several times in an unsuccessful attempt to steal a bank deposit bag containing the restaurant’s receipts. Prior to fleeing the area, Burdick reached inside the vehicle and removed the victim’s car keys and a cell phone.

According to information presented to the court, fingerprints retrieved by North Kingstown Police from the driver’s side window of the vehicle matched fingerprints on file belonging to Burdick. He was arrested on January 24, 2012, by the Rhode Island State Police Fugitive Task Force.

Burdick, who has been detained since his arrest, faces up to 20 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith on October 26, 2012. Burdick is a career offender who has at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan

The FBI assisted in the investigation of this matter.