Man Federally Charged In Connection To Four Bank Robberies

TEWKSBURY, MA — A Methuen man was charged in federal court, Wednesday, in connection to bank robberies in Tewksbury, Wilmington, Chelmsford and Lowell.

Caio Costa, 25, was arrested by New Hampshire police in September and charged in state court with multiple robberies. He made his first appearance in federal court, Wednesday, and was charged with armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.

According to federal prosecutors, Costa admitted to four robberies: the Sept. 25 armed robbery of the Salem Five Bank in Tewksbury; the Aug. 28 armed robbery of the Eastern Bank in Chelmsford; the Sept. 18 armed robbery of the People’s United Bank in Lowell and the Sept. 18 armed robbery of the Reading Co-Op in Wilmington

In each robbery, the robber entered wearing dark clothing and a motorcycle helmet, brandished a black revolver, and then escaped on a dark-colored motorcycle, prosecutors said.

According to the police and prosecutors' narrative, Costa robbed the Salem Five Bank in Tewksbury on Sept. 25, then fled on his motorcycle. Tewksbury police spotted him on his motorcycle and attempted to stop him, but he fled, going 80 to 100 miles per hour.

Soon after, a motorcycle crash was reported on the Andover/Lawrence line. Tewksbury police recovered the motorcycle and the rider's helmet, but the rider successfully fled on foot.

The next day, Costa was found in a New Hampshire hotel and arrested. He later admitted to the four robberies in an interview with police, according to federal prosecutors.

Costa faces up to 25 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 for the armed bank robbery charge. The firearm brandishing charge carries a mandatory sentence of seven years in prison to be served consecutive to the armed robbery charge.

All people are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.