Man Accused Of Robbing Trumbull Bank Sentenced To Prison: Feds

TRUMBULL, CT — A man accused of robbing a Trumbull bank and taking nearly $30,000 in 2014 has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, according to a news release from Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Bomani Africa, 62, of Philadelphia, was sentenced Thursday to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Avery said.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Africa and an associate are accused of robbing a People's United Bank branch on Old Kings Highway Road in Darien on April 20, 2014.

After being dropped off in downtown Darien by his associate, Africa entered the bank, pulled out a gun, jumped over the teller counter and ordered a teller to open drawers, saying "I will shoot you if you don't give me all your money," according to Avery.

After taking a substantial amount of cash, Africa left the bank and was picked up a short distance away by his associate, Avery said.

On Sept. 25, 2014, a second associate drove Africa from Philadelphia to a parking lot in Trumbull, where he stole a car from a person at gunpoint around 8:30 a.m., Avery said.

The next morning, Africa and and an associate, both wearing masks and brandishing firearms, robbed a People's United Bank branch on Madison Avenue in Trumbull, taking nearly $30,000 in cash, Avery said.

After leaving the bank in the car Africa is accused of stealing, they parked in a nearby lot and set fire to the car, Avery said.

A second associate then drove Africa from the scene and the three men divided the proceeds of the robbery at a Norwalk restaurant, Avery said. Africa and one of the associates then drove back to Philadelphia.

On Dec. 13, 2014, Africa and an associate, both wearing masks and brandishing firearms, robbed a First Niagara Bank branch on Hawley Lane in Stratford, taking more than $15,000 in cash, Avery said.

Africa, who has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple convictions for robbery offenses, has been detained since his arrest on May 28, 2015, according to Avery. He pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery on Dec. 16, 2015.

In addition to this prosecution, Africa has pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire charges in New Jersey in connection to a contract killing of a person on May 22, 2014, according to Avery. He is awaiting sentencing in that case.