Man Pleads Guilty To Robbing Stratford Bank In 2020: Feds

STRATFORD, CT —A 51-year-old man this week pleaded guilty to robbing banks in Stratford, Fairfield and New Canaan in October 2020, according to United States Attorney for the District of CT Vanessa Roberts Avery.

Francesco "Frank" Pensiero, of Stamford, appeared before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven on Monday.

Pensiero is released on a $100,000 bond and faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison, Avery said in a news release. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on Oct. 13, 2020, Pensiero and an associate robbed the Chase Bank located at 2855 Main St. in Stratford, Avery said.

During the robbery, Pensiero’s associate showed a handgun on the teller counter and presented the teller with a note that read, "This is a robbery, give me all your money," according to Avery, adding the teller eventually gave them approximately $1,000.

Later that same day, Pensiero robbed the People’s United Bank located at 1160 Kings Highway Cutoff in Fairfield in similar fashion, Avery said. He was able to get away with $5,458.

On Oct. 28, 2020, Pensiero and his associate robbed the People’s United Bank located at 95 Main St. in New Canaan, Avery said.

Pensiero again displayed a handgun and provided the teller with a note demanding money, and he "verbally threatened to kill the teller and other employees, and ordered the bank employees to lie on the floor," Avery said.

Pensiero and his associate stole $9,130 and fled from the bank in a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, Avery said. The following day, the car was set on fire on Green Avenue in New Canaan.

On Jan. 27, 2023, Pensiero was arrested on a federal criminal complaint. His associate, who was not named in Avery's news release, was charged with, and convicted of, related state offenses stemming from the robberies.

Avery noted that Pensiero has a criminal history with convictions related to bank robbery and other offenses.