RANDOLPH MAN CONVICTED OF ARMED BANK ROBBERY

Boston, MA... A Randolph man was convicted last night in federal court of committing armed bank robbery with what appeared to be a handgun of the Sovereign Bank at 415 Market Street in Brighton on July 20, 2006.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent-in- Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation New England Field Division, announced today that TRENT MILLER, age 42, of 24 West Chestnut Street, Randolph, was convicted by a federal jury of armed bank robbery.

Evidence presented during the three day trial proved that MILLER, wearing a wig, artificial facial hair and sunglasses, entered the bank at about 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2006. He approached two tellers and demanded “hundreds” as he pointed the gun at them through the counter tray. He then placed the money in a backpack and fled. A high-speed car chase ensued in which MILLER, using the BMW 740i registered to his girlfriend, led state and local police down Interstate 95 (Route 128) from Brighton to Canton at speed exceeding 140 miles per hour. Testimony at the trial indicated that MILLER was seen by civilian and law enforcement witnesses throwing items from the car, which included the backpack and its contents: over $11,000.00 in cash, a Boston University mask and what appeared to be handgun (later found to be a pellet gun). On at least two occasions, MILLER drove the wrong way (against traffic) on I-95 and Route 109.

MILLER ultimately parked the car in a residential neighborhood of Canton. Having discarded the clothes he had worn during the robbery, state police and Milton police found him a short distance from the car. After attempting to run from the police, MILLER was apprehended. He then told the police that he was merely out for a jog. According to the trial testimony and a recorded interview on the afternoon of July 20, 2006, MILLER later told authorities (FBI and Boston Police) that he had been abducted at gunpoint, that another man - whom he refused to identify, other than describing him as a “cracked-out murderer who lived in the Fanueil Housing Project - had forced him to drive and that the abductor was actually the bank robber. MILLER steadfastly refused to identify the abductor.

At trial, MILLER’s brother was called as the sole defense witness. During cross examination by the government, he stated that his brother could not jog as he has a blown-out knee. MILLER’s brother also stated that he had never known his brother, whom he knew to be a very physically fit kick boxer, to work out or jog in Canton.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 6, 2007. MILLER faces up to twenty-five years of imprisonment on the armed bank robbery to be followed by five years of supervised release, and a $ 250,000 fine (and full restitution of the $11,685.00 stolen from Sovereign Bank).

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police Department, Canton Police Department and Milton Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul R. Moore of Sullivan’s Major Crimes Unit.