Wakefield Couple Indicted for Alleged Gas Station Robbery in April

Authorities announced last week that Eugene Bertini, 37, and Leslie Bertini, 40, both of 138 Salem Street in Wakefield, were indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury on charges of three counts of armed robbery, armed assault with intent to rob, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, and larceny over $250, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

Leslie Bertini was arrested on a warrant related to the charges on June 3. She was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on June 7 and was held on $50,000 bail. However, later on that day, she was released with a GPS bracelet, and will be back in court on June 9th for a dangerousness hearing.

Eugene Bertini is scheduled to be arraigned on June 15 at 9 a.m.

The Charges
According to authorities, on the evening of April 25, 2011, Eugene Bertini is alleged to have exited a car and approached a gas station located on North Street in Wakefield, armed with a handgun. Police said he ordered the teenager working at the gas station to the floor, hitting him on the side of the head with the gun. He is alleged to have then demanded cash, totaling about $250, as well as stole a necklace off another teenager in the gas station, before fleeing.

Leslie Bertini is alleged to have been in the car with Bertini and to have had knowledge prior to Eugene’s leaving the car that he intended to commit the robbery. It is alleged that it was Leslie who directed the driver of the car to pull off of the main street and onto a side street, where they parked and waited for Eugene to return. Although the car was not visible from the gas station, upon fleeing the gas station, Eugene headed directly to the area the car was waiting.   

The defendants were arrested later that evening at a hotel in Saugus by officers from Saugus Police Department, Wakefield Police Department, and Stoneham Police Department. Found in the room were the stolen necklace and the gun alleged to have been used during the robbery, police said. More than $300 was also found in Eugene Bertini's shoes, according to police.