Fall River Bank Robber Caught Allegedly Trying to Rob a Bank

FALL RIVER — A Fall River serial bank robber caught while allegedly trying to rob a bank earlier this fall has been federally charged with another bank robbery — his third in just ten days, according to authorities.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said 59-year-old William Sequeira of Fall River has been charged for robbing a TD Bank branch near Faneuil Hall in Boston, days before he was arrested for trying to rob another bank in the same city.

Fall River police helped the FBI identify Sequeira — who has previously spent more than 26 years in prison on bank robbery charges — partly due to a Ben Affleck film as well as his appearance in a television show.

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Sequeira has been charged with one count of bank robbery for allegedly robbing the TD Bank on Union Street in Boston on Sept. 30, just five days before he was caught allegedly trying to rob a Citizens Bank on Boylston Street, officials said.

He had previously been identified as the suspect in a bank robbery at the Rodman Street Citizens Bank in Fall River on Sept. 26.

Sequeira is already facing charges for both the Fall River and the Boylston Street robberies.

Fall River police said he was identified thanks in part due to his habit of telling people that Ben Affleck’s bank robber character in The Town was based on him — and because he appeared on the television show Caught in Providence.

He had previously spent more than 26 years in prison for a 1997 bank robbery in Cranston, Rhode Island.

On Sept. 30, Sequeira allegedly went into the TD Bank, approached a teller and said, "Give me all the money before I blow your brains out," the U.S. Attorney's Office stated.

He also allegedly told the teller to give him "all the $100s in the drawer," according to authorities.

After allegedly getting the money, the office stated, Sequeira fled on foot.

Investigators identified Sequeira as the suspect from surveillance footage and from interviews.

Sequeira was caught on Oct. 5 after law enforcement conducting surveillance in the Back Bay area spotted him entering a Citizens Bank on Boylston Street.

He allegedly asked the teller for "hundreds" and threatened to shoot the teller if they did not move fast enough, before he was arrested.

On the single bank robbery charge from Sept. 30, Sequeira faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

It is unclear how much money was stolen.