NEW HAMPSHIRE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BANK ROBBERIES

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire Tom Colantuono announced that Neal Wright, of Derry, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty today in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire to committing a series of bank robberies in New Hampshire and Massachusetts in June, 2007.

Wright admitted in open court that on June 22, 2007, he robbed a Citizens Bank located in Londonderry, New Hampshire. He also admitted to robbing two TD Banknorth branches
in Manchester, New Hampshire and Methuen, Massachusetts on June 23rd and June 25th, 2007. Wright was arrested by the Londonderry Police Department and a court authorized search resulted in the recovery of some clothing worn during the robbery and a sum of cash.

A sentencing hearing will be held on July 24, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. Wright faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, though the sentence recommended by the advisory sentencing guidelines is likely to be lower. He also can be fined up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Colantuono stated: “This office will continue to work with local and state law enforcement officials to prosecute bank robbers. We believe that the vigilant prosecution of these individuals will contain this danger to society and deter others from committing similar crimes.”

The Londonderry and Manchester, New Hampshire Police Departments, along with the Methuen, Massachusetts Police and the FBI conducted the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Veiga.