FOUR LAKES REGION MEN CHARGED WITH
BANK ROBBERY AND FIREARMS OFFENSES

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire Tom Colantuono, FBI SAC Warren Bamford, the New Hampshire State Police, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, New Hampton Police Chief Nathaniel Sawyer, Jr., Gilmanton Acting Police Chief Philip O’Brien, the Meredith Police Department, the Laconia Police Department and the Belknap County Sheriff’s Office announced today Corey Donovan and Micah Donovan of Laconia, Ian Burns of Gilmanton, and Jay Lawrence of Meredith, New Hampshire, have been charged in a criminal complaint issued by the United States District Court with conspiracy to commit the February 23, 2007 robbery of the Franklin Savings Bank in New Hampton, New Hampshire. The Donovans and Burns have also been charged with using, carrying and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the bank robbery. Lawrence has also been charged with being an accessory after the fact by providing assistance to the other conspirators. Micah Donovan, Ian Burns and Jay Lawrence were arrested today and appeared in the United States District Court today to answer the charges in the criminal complaint. They were detained pending additional hearings scheduled for Wednesday, May 16, 2007.

According to the allegations set forth in the criminal complaint, Corey Donovan committed the robbery of the Franklin Savings Bank with the assistance of his brother, Micah Donovan, Ian Burns, and others who served as lookouts and assisted Corey Donovan in hiding a snowmobile used in the robbery. The complaint alleges that Jay Lawrence permitted a snowmobile used in the robbery to be hidden on Lawrence’s property and assisted in destroying evidence of the robbery.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the N.H. State Police, the N.H. Fish & Game Department and the New Hampton and Gilmanton police departments. It is being prosecuted by AUSA Terry Ollila.

United States Attorney Colantuono reminds the public that a complaint merely alleges that a crime has been committed and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.