Dartmouth Man Sentenced for New Bedford Bank Robbery

FALL RIVER — A Dartmouth man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to robbing a bank in New Bedford last year.

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office says Mark DeMelo, 44, of Dartmouth, pleaded guilty last week in Fall River Superior Court to one count of unarmed robbery.

On March 19, 2018, DeMelo robbed the BankFive on County Street in New Bedford by walking up to a teller and saying, "I am here to rob the place, no bypass. Give me the money and make it fast." DeMelo fled the scene with an undetermined amount of money.

Surveillance video showed DeMelo getting into a silver car with front-end damage. After searching for an older silver Acura with front bumper damage, New Bedford Police located the vehicle four days after the robbery. Witnesses identified the owner of the vehicle as the same man who robbed the bank. Police arrested and charged DeMelo with the robbery.

At the time of his arrest, DeMelo had a 13-page criminal record which included convictions such as larcenies, breaking and entering, and serious assaults.

DeMelo was sentenced last week to serve four to five-and-a-half years in state prison.