Man Sentenced to Four Years in Jail for Southbury Bank Robbery

A Bloomfield man was sentenced Wednesday to four years in jail for committing violent bank robberies in Southbury, Cromwell and Wallingford.

Michael Morris, 60, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his 48 months of imprisonment.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Morris, Leroy McCoy and Keith Sutherland conspired to commit the armed robberies of the Naugatuck Savings Bank in Southbury on April 20, 2011, the Webster Bank in Cromwell on October 7, 2011, and the Connex Credit Union in Wallingford on April 19, 2012.

Prior to each robbery, Sutherland, with the knowledge of Morris and McCoy, stole a minivan in the New Haven area, according to a press release.

To sign up for breaking news alerts and more, click here.

Upon arriving at each victim bank, Morris, McCoy and two other individuals, wearing masks and armed with handguns, burst into the bank and ordered employees and customers to the ground. They then forced a bank employee to open the vault, stuffed money taken from the vault and teller drawers into duffle bags, exited the bank fled in the stolen vehicle.

A total of approximately $230,000 was taken during the three robberies.

Morris has been detained since his arrest on October 4, 2013. On September 24, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery.

McCoy and Sutherland also pleaded guilty. On December 10, 2014, McCoy was sentenced to 54 months of imprisonment. Sutherland awaits sentencing.

The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, and the Cromwell, Wallingford, Fairfield and Orange Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

Also on Patch:

• Burglary at Southbury Home Being Investigated
• Man Under the Influence Cursed at Troopers, Elbowed Them During Arrest for Crash in Southbury
• Man Accused of Threatening to Kill Wife Over Her Facebook Page
• Missing Teens Had Been Living in Boardhouse
• Man Accused of Stalking Former Fiancee