The Stamford man charged in the October 2020 gunpoint robbery of a bank on Main Street in New Canaan on Monday pleaded guilty to bank robbery in federal court.
According to a press release issued this week by the U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, Francesco Pensiero on Oct. 28, 2020 and an associate robbed the People’s United Bank on Main Street.
“Pensiero displayed a handgun, provided the teller with a note demanding money, verbally threatened to kill the teller and other employees, and ordered the bank employees to lie on the floor,” the release said. “Pensiero and his associate stole $9,130 during the robbery, and fled from the bank in a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS. The following day, the car was set on fire on Green Avenue in New Canaan.”
He was arrested Jan. 27, 2023 and faces a maximum prison term of 20 years. It’s not clear just when he’ll be sentenced (he’s out on $100,000 bond).
According to the press release, Pensiero and associate had committed bank robberies earlier in October 2020 in Stratford and Fairfield (both on Oct. 13, yielding a total of about $6,500).
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Stratford, Fairfield, and New Canaan Police Departments.