BOSTON, MA - A Waltham man was convicted today in federal court of twelve bank robberies and two attempted bank robberies in Natick, Arlington, Boston, Belmont, Quincy, Newton, and Watertown.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division, announced today that CHRISTOPHER A. POLITIS, age 37, of 52 Whitman Road, Waltham, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf to twelve bank robberies and two attempted bank robberies. Also convicted today for one-count of bank robbery was DONALD J. GILLIS, age 40, of 96 Taylor Street, Waltham, MA 02453.

At today’s plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that from December 2007 and May 2008, POLITIS amassed 14 bank robberies, stealing over $48,000. Some banks were struck more than once. POLITIS was ultimately captured due to the assistance of the media and general public. An anonymous tip identified POLITIS as the bank robber for one bank. With this assistance, the FBI - Bank Robbery Task Force affixed a GPS tracking device to his car. This investigative technique led law enforcement directly to POLITIS’ co-defendant GILLIS and the eventual robbery of the Village Bank in Newton, on May 10, 2008. POLITIS and GILLIS were captured fleeing from the robbery, with money, a costume and other evidence in the getaway car.

Judge Wolf scheduled sentencing for May 27, 2009. POLITIS and GILLIS face up to 20 years imprisonment for each count, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $175,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the FBI - Bank Robbery Task Force, Quincy and Belmont police departments and the Middlesex and Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Kelley Brown of Sullivan’s Major Crimes Unit.