Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, has announced the sentencing of Francesco Pensiero, also known as Frank Pensiero, a 52-year-old resident of Stamford. Pensiero was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in robbing three banks in Connecticut during 2020.
Court documents and statements revealed that on October 13, 2020, Pensiero and an associate committed a robbery at Chase Bank located at 2855 Main Street in Stratford. During this incident, Pensiero's associate displayed a handgun on the teller counter and presented a note stating "this is a robbery give me all your money." The teller complied and handed over approximately $1,000 before both individuals left the bank.
Later that same day, Pensiero robbed People's United Bank at 1160 Kings Highway Cutoff in Fairfield. He brandished a handgun and gave the teller a note reading "This is a robbery," resulting in him receiving $5,458 before exiting.
On October 28, 2020, another robbery took place at People's United Bank located at 95 Main Street in New Canaan. In this instance, Pensiero showed a handgun and issued threats to kill the teller and other employees while demanding money through a note. He ordered employees to lie on the floor before escaping with $9,130 alongside his associate in a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS. The vehicle was found burned on Green Avenue in New Canaan the following day.
Pensiero was arrested based on a federal criminal complaint on January 27, 2023. He pleaded guilty to bank robbery charges on June 3, 2024.
His criminal record includes previous convictions for bank robbery among other offenses. His associate faced conviction for related state offenses connected to these robberies.
The investigation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with police departments from Stratford, Fairfield, and New Canaan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon prosecuted the case.
