NH Man Pleads Guilty To 2-State Bank Robbery Spree

CONCORD, NH — A former Laconia resident has pleaded guilty in federal court to seven bank robberies in 2016 and 2017, in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Chaka Meredith, 42, offered the plea on Jan. 18, 2018, acting U.S. Attorney John Farley noted in a press statement. Meredith – according to court documents – first robbed the Bank of America in Boston, MA, in late December 2016.

In January 2017, he robbed six other banks: East Boston Savings Bank in Jamaica Plain, MA, Meredith Village Savings Bank in Laconia, NH, a Santander Bank branch location in Lawrence, MA, and a TD Bank branch location in Lawrence, MA, and a Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank branch location in Pepperell, MA, and a Santander Bank location in Plaistow, NH.

Meredith has been in custody since his arrest by the Lawrence MA Police on Feb. 1, 2017, Farley noted. He was originally indicted for a robbery in Plaistow on March 8, 2017, but his guilty plea resolves all of his pending charges in both states.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat violent crime,” said Farley stated. “This defendant’s crime spree is the type of conduct that creates fear in our communities. Those who engage in such criminal activities will be prosecuted aggressively in order to protect the safety of the citizens of the Granite State.”

Meredith is scheduled to be sentenced in May. His plea agreement requires restitution to the banks.

“Mr. Meredith is finally accepting responsibility for his multi-state crime spree, where, very fortunately, no one was harmed,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division (FBI). “Due to the close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we were able to track him down and safely get him off the streets. This case demonstrates the commitment of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force in bringing to justice those who break the law and intimidate hard-working citizens.”

Numerous police departments were involved in the investigation including Laconia and Plaistow Police and the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department in New Hampshire as well as the Mass. State Police and Brookline, Lawrence, and Pepperell MA Police Departments.

Image via Plaistow Police.