Crime & Safety
G-U-I-L-T-Y: 'Spelling Bee Bandit' Cops To Bank Robberies
The Chelsea man hit banks in Peabody, Arlington, Burlington, and Reading - all with poorly written notes.

ARLINGTON, MA — The 'spelling bee bandit' pleaded guilty Wednesday to robbing banks in four communities across Massachusetts. Jason Englen, 34, of Chelsea admitted to passing notes to tellers at four banks telling that a robbery was in progress.
Well, 'robery' was how it was written on the note during the first bank robbery on Halloween last year in an Arlington TD Bank. Over the next few weeks, he used notes saying 'robery' or 'robert' in Reading (TD Bank,) Burlington (Salem Five,) and Peabody (TD Bank,) according to federal prosecutors.
Englen was arrested in December. He faces up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 28.
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Image via FBI
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