John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ZACHARY PROVOST, 32, of Waterbury, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with committing two armed robberies in Middlebury last month.
PROVOST has been detained since his arrest on state charges on December 9, 2017. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven and was ordered detained.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, at approximately 10:00 a.m. on December 8, 2017, PROVOST robbed the Mobil gas station, located at 750 Straits Turnpike in Middlebury, and the Dunkin’ Donuts located inside the Mobil gas station. PROVOST first robbed the Mobil by pointing what appeared to be firearm at the cashier and ordering the cashier to give him the contents of the cash register. The cashier unlocked the cash register and PROVOST took approximately $578 in cash from the register. PROVOST also demanded and received cigarettes valued at approximately $131, from the cashier. PROVOST then walked to the Dunkin’ Donuts counter, displayed a handgun to the cashier and took approximately $350 in cash from the cash register.
It is further alleged that law enforcement identified PROVOST from surveillance images, and that PROVOST is also a suspect in multiple bank robberies.
On December 9, 2017, PROVOST was arrested by Waterbury Police officers after they responded to a call of an overdose of a woman at a motel in Waterbury. Officers were able to revive the overdose victim, who had been staying in the same room as PROVOST.
The complaint charges PROVOST with Hobbs Act Robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Waterbury Police Department and other state and local law enforcement agencies. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
