Getaway Driver In Middlebury Armed Robbery Sent To Prison: Feds

MIDDLEBURY, CT — Anthony Vito, 28, formerly of Stoughton, Mass. was sentenced to four years in prison for his role as a getaway driver for an armed bank robbery and two commercial robberies in December 2017, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 8, 2017, Vito drove Anthony Provost to the Mobil Gas Station and Dunkin Donuts located at 750 Straits Turnpike in Middlebury, federal authorities said.

Provost first threatened the cashier at the Mobil station with what appeared to be a firearm, and instructed her to open the cash register and provide her with all of its contents, federal authorities said.

The cashier complied and provided him with $578. The cashier also complied with Provost’s demand that she give him cigarettes valued at approximately $131. federal authorities said.

Provost then went to the cashier at the Dunkin Donuts, lifted his shirt to display what appeared to be a firearm and demanded money, federal authorities said. During the robbery, when a customer entered the premises, Provost pointed the firearm at her and told her to keep her hands out of her pocketbook, federal authorities said. The cashier gave Provost approximately $350. Provost then fled the premises in the vehicle driven by Vito, federal authorities said

Vito then drove Provost to the Thomaston Savings Bank located at 508 South Main Street in Thomaston. At the bank, Provost handed the teller a note stating “Robbery 20’s, 50’s, 100’s, quiet,” federal authorities said.

Provost also displayed what appeared to be a firearm. After the teller gave him money, Provost told her to get money from the other teller. The teller complied, and Provost left the bank with $1,471, federal authorities said. Provost and Vito then fled the scene.

On December 9, 2017, Provost was arrested by Waterbury Police officers in a motel room that was occupied by Vito and another individual. At the scene, officers recovered a silver and beige handled CO-2 powered BB gun, a black ski mask, a gray ski mask, $542 in cash, and multiple packs of cigarettes, federal authorities said. Officers also seized a red Ford Explorer that had been used during several of the robberies. Vito was arrested shortly thereafter.

Provost and Vito have been detained since their arrests. On June 8, 2018, Vito pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting an armed bank robbery.

On April 26, 2018, Provost pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery and admitted that he committed these robberies and several others in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire late last year, federal authorities said. On July 19, 2018, he was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment.