New Bedford Man Sentenced for Role in Two Robberies

A 20-year-old New Bedford man will be spending several years behind bars for his role in two robberies in 2015.

Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn's office says Joseph Coito was sentenced to four to five years in state prison in Fall River Superior Court Wednesday. Prosecutors had argued that Coito should be held for a maximum of seven-and-a-half years due to the brazen nature of the crimes and Coito's lengthy criminal record dating back to his days as a juvenile.

On May 17, 2015, Coito entered the Tedeschi's convenience store on Brock Avenue, and threatened the clerk with a large kitchen knife. Coito told the clerk, "don't make me stab you," and demanded cigarettes, scratch tickets, and cash.

The next day, Coito went to the Citizens Bank branch inside the Kings Highway Stop & Shop and handed the teller a note that said, "I will blow your head off if you don't give me $3,000." The teller gave Coito the money and he fled the store.

Through the use of surveillance video and other tactics, New Bedford Police located and arrested Coito at a Wareham motel on May 21.