Men Plead Guilty to Armed Robbery of Bank in Hamden: Feds

HAMDEN, CT — Three men have pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to charges related to the armed robberies of the Allingtown Post Office and the Wells Fargo Bank in Hamden on April 21, 2016, U.S. States Attorney Deirdre M. Daly announced on Friday.

On Feb. 2, Malcolm Haynes, also known as “Black,” 26, of New Haven, pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery of a postal employee and one count of armed bank robbery. On Jan. 25, Derrick White, also known as “Fly,” 52, of Hamden, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery. On Jan. 30, Howard Bookert, 19, of Hamden, pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery of a postal employee.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on the morning of April 21, 2016, Haynes, White, Bookert and another male drive in White’s vehicle to the vicinity of the Allingtown Post Office located at 75 Farwell Avenue in West Haven.

Haynes, who was armed with a .22-caliber rifle, White and Bookert then entered the post office, according to Daly.

“Haynes pointed the rifle at individuals who were in the lobby and the clerk behind the counter and directed them to stay away from the door,” Daly wrote in the press release. “White then hopped over the counter, waved the postal clerk away from her station, removed the cash drawer from the counter and handed it to Bookert. The robbers then fled with the drawer, which contained approximately $491.

“In the afternoon of April 21, 2016, the four individuals drove to a branch of Wells Fargo Bank located at 1647 Whitney Avenue in Hamden. Haynes, again armed with the rifle, White and the other male entered the bank. Haynes pointed the rifle in the direction of various employees as White went behind the counter and removed approximately $9,287 from teller drawers. During the robbery, the other male brandished what appeared to be a small black semi-automatic pistol.”

White and Bookert were apprehended in New Haven on April 21, 2016. Haynes was arrested on May 23, 2016.

Haynes, White and Bookert, who have been detained since their arrests, are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson on May 3, April 19 and May 4, respectively.

Each of the charges carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years, according to Daly.

The fourth male was charged in state court and his case remains pending.

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