MANCHESTER MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS FOR BANK ROBBERY

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – United States Attorney Tom Colantuono announced that on Monday, July 9, 2007, Sean King, age 38, of Manchester, New Hampshire was sentenced, after being convicted by a jury, to a 30 year term of imprisonment for his involvement in the armed robbery of the Bellwether Credit Union in Manchester, New Hampshire, on October 19, 2005.

During King’s trial, the United States presented twenty-five witnesses. Those witnesses established that on October 19, 2005, defendant Sean King and an individual named Steven Huard arrived at the Bellwether Credit Union at 4:20 p.m., traveling in a stolen blue Cadillac STS. Once the two arrived at the credit union, they exited their vehicle and, wearing extensive disguises, entered the credit union. Steven Huard, who was wearing a red jacket with white stripes, and who had a latex glove on his right hand, approached a teller, brandished a .45 caliber, silver and black Ruger handgun, and demanded money. Defendant Sean King, who was holding a black handgun, approached a separate teller, leapt over the teller counter and emptied numerous cash drawers of currency. After remaining in the bank for 70 seconds, and after obtaining $18,450.00 in United States currency, King and Huard fled the area at 4:22 p.m. in the stolen Cadillac STS.

The testimony also established that at 1:20 a.m. on October 20, 2005, the Cadillac STS was recovered from a grocery store located one mile from the Bellwether Credit Union. Law enforcement recovered a latex glove from inside the vehicle and members of the New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory determined that the print contained in the latex glove matched the right ring finger of defendant Steven Huard. The New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory also matched a foot print found on the Bellwether teller counter with a pair of Nike sneakers worn by Sean King during the robbery.

Defendant Sean King was arrested in Manchester, New Hampshire, on November 4, 2005. Steven Huard was arrested on November 8, 2005, in Billerica, Massachusetts, and attempted to flee from law enforcement. At the time of Huard’s arrest, law enforcement recovered the silver and black .45 caliber Ruger handgun which he utilized during the Bellwether robbery.

United States Attorney Colantuono commended the investigation and bravery of the employees at Bellwether Credit Union, stating, “This case represents a fine example of the hard work and dedication of law enforcement whose efforts have ensured that a once armed and dangerous individual is removed from the streets of New Hampshire for 30 years. The victims of this violent offense, the Bellwether employees, have all demonstrated extraordinary fearlessness throughout the prosecution and should also be commended. They have symbolized the best of New Hampshire by withstanding a difficult ordeal and by showing grace and dignity throughout the process.”

The prosecution was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department, the Hooksett, New Hampshire Police Department, and the Billerica, Massachusetts Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry L. Ollila.