6 Banks Allegedly Robbed by One Man

A Middletown man was charged by federal criminal complaint with the alleged robbery of Liberty Bank in Durham. He is a suspect is five other recent Connecticut bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery.

Matthew Dragone, 31, of Middletown was arrested on Friday, Sept. 18. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven on Monday, Sept. 21, and is presently detained.

The charge of bank robbery carries a 20-year maximum term of imprisonment. According to the criminal complaint, the FBI, Connecticut State Police and several local police departments investigated a series of bank robberies that occurred in August and September.

Alleged Robbery in Durham

The complaint alleges that, on Sept. 3, Dragone, wearing dark sunglasses, a blue-striped long sleeve dress shirt and a white baseball cap with a Coors Lite logo, entered the Liberty Bank located at 357 Main Street in Durham.

Holding a cellphone to his ear, he allegedly approached the teller counter and presented to a teller a bank-style bag with a note affixed to the front. The note reportedly demanded money and an order not to include a dye pack or GPS.

The teller placed approximately $1,490 in cash in the bag and handed it to Dragone, who then exited the bank and drove away.

Investigators found a Coors Lite baseball cap and a blue-striped shirt on the side of the road approximately 50 yards from the bank. Laboratory analysis of the discarded shirt revealed DNA consistent with Dragone’s DNA on the shirt’s collar.

The complaint further alleges that Dragone is a suspect in the following alleged robberies:

• Webster Bank at 145 Highland Ave. in Cheshire on August 12
• TD Bank at 1127 Farmington Ave. in Berlin on August 13
• Liberty Bank at 151 Main St. in Deep River on August 17
• TD Bank at 25 Wells Rd. in Wethersfield on August 31
• Webster Bank at 377 Cromwell Ave. in Rocky Hill on Sept. 9 (attempt)
• TD Bank at 184 Clinton Rd. in Killingworth on Sept. 11

A search of Dragone’s residence on Wednesday, Sept. 16, revealed clothing and sunglasses consistent with those worn during the Durham robbery, and a bank-style bag consistent with the one used during several of the bank robberies, police said.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation is ongoing, according to Daly and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the Connecticut State Police and the Middletown, Cheshire, Berlin, Wethersfield, and Rocky Hill Police Departments. The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services is assisting the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.