New Boston Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Bank Robbery

CONCORD, N.H. - Robert A. Ruggiero, 24, of New Boston, was sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison for bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 8, 2017, Ruggiero walked into a Citizens Bank branch in Goffstown, New Hampshire, and handed the teller a note demanding money. The teller gave Ruggiero a quantity of United States currency. Surveillance cameras captured images of the robbery, which were broadcast on local news outlets and distributed via social media. Numerous individuals identified Ruggiero from the photographs and he was apprehended later that day.

 Ruggiero pleaded guilty to the offense on November 9, 2017.  After serving his sentence, he will be on supervised release for three years.

“Bank robbery is a violent crime that endangers both bank employees and members of the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit bank robberies and other violent offenses so that we can improve the safety of our community.”

Mr. Ruggiero's unlawful behavior brought fear and concern to bank employees," said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Boston Division. "The FBI is grateful for the public's assistance in helping us identify him, and we are fully committed to working with all of our law enforcement partners to combat violent crime and improve the safety of our communities."

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Goffstown Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek.