A federal judge sentenced a local man as a career offender to over 11 years in prison on Tuesday, September 28, for a string of local bank robberies in late 2019 and early 2020.
A U.S. District Court judge in Worcester sentenced Matthew Alden, 27, of Lancaster, to 136 months in prison and ordered him to pay $14,914 in restitution for three counts of bank robbery. Alden pleaded guilty to all three counts in December 2020.
According to federal prosecutors, Alden robbed Cornerstone Bank on South Main Street in Leicester on December 12, 2019. Alden fled the scene after stealing $9,906.
On December 27, 2019, Alden robbed Avidia Savings Bank on Maple Street in Marlboro, stealing $3,980 before fleeing.
On February 21, 2020, Alden robbed Avidia Bank on Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, sealing $1,028. A few hours later, a gas station surveillance camera caught Alden purchasing items inside of the gas station. Video surveillance from a day earlier showed Alden near the vicinity of the bank, looking at video cameras.
Alden’s arrest took place on Feb. 26, 2020.
When law enforcement searched Alden’s phone, it contained pictures of him wearing clothing that was worn during the robberies. The phone also contained a picture, taken on December 12, 2019, the same day as the Leicester bank robbery, showing him holding a large sum of cash. Metadata showed the photo taken 14 minutes after the robbery occurred.
When law enforcement arrested Alden, he was holding a notepad. On it he had written a list of 12 banks in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with notes about hours of operation and other details.
During a search of Alden’s home, law enforcement recovered clothing identical to those worn during the robberies.
