Accused Robber Of 5 CT Banks Enters Court Plea: U.S. Attorney

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A 25-year-old former Bridgeport resident waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to one count of armed bank robbery and admitted that he robbed a total of five Connecticut banks between November 2016 and June 2017. The plea deal was announced by United States Attorney John H. Durham.

According to court documents and prosecutors, Bryce Alexander Laister robbed:

• Webster Bank on Merwin Avenue in Milford on November 30, 2016
• Key Bank on East Main Street in Plainville on April 7, 2017
• Key Bank on Boston Post Road in Westbrook on May 5, 2017
• People’s United Bank located inside the Stop and Shop on Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton on May 30, 2017
• People’s United Bank located inside the Stop and Shop on Amity Road in New Haven on June 10, 2017

"During the Shelton robbery, Laister brandished a pistol, and during the Plainville and Westbrook robberies, Laister threatened to kill or shoot bank employees if they did not comply with his demands," wrote prosecutors in a statement.

"Laister was located and arrested in Stratford on June 15, 2017, after he engaged in a two-hour standoff with local and federal law enforcement officers," the statement continued. "At the time of his arrest, Laister possessed a .380 caliber pistol and a magazine loaded with two bullets. A subsequent search one of Laister’s vehicles revealed clothing he wore during the robbery on June 10, a makeup kit he used to disguise his features, and a Stop and Shop circular."

He has been in custody since arrest, and is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello on May 17, at which time he faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and the Milford, Plainville, Shelton, New Haven and Stratford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.

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