A Hyde Park man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to the armed robbery of a Hyde Park bank. Paul Whooten, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery before U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris who scheduled sentencing for April 12, 2023. Whooten was charged in February 2020.
On Dec. 21, 2019, Whooten entered a branch of Rockland Trust Bank in Hyde Park, carrying something that appeared to be a rifle. Upon entering the bank, Whooten pointed it at the teller before stating, “Give me all of your money.” The teller filled Whooten’s bag with $13,603 in cash, and Whooten fled the bank on foot. Bank surveillance cameras captured images of the Whooten throughout the robbery. Shortly after leaving the bank, Whooten was observed on the street wearing clothes consistent with those observed inside the bank and still holding what appeared to be a rifle in his hand. Law enforcement immediately apprehended Whooten and a black rifle-type BB gun and bag of cash were recovered from him. The charge of armed bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of Rollins’ Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Original source can be found here
