PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A federal grand jury in Providence today returned a five-count charging Vaughn Watrous, 36, formerly of Providence, with five counts of bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Cranston Police Chief Colonel Marco Palombo, Jr., Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office.
The indictment alleges that between February 6 and Feb. 14, 2013, Watrous robbed a total of five banks in Providence and Cranston. The indictment alleges that Watrous robbed four of the banks on consecutive dates.
Watrous, who will appear for arraignment in U.S. District Court at a date yet to be determined, has been detained at the ACI since his arrest by Cranston Police on Feb. 14, 2013.
If convicted, Watrous faces statutory penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison; 3 years of supervised release; and a fine of $250,000 for each count of bank robbery.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
The robberies were investigated by Providence Police, Cranston Police and the FBI.
An indictmentis merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
