In court a prosecutor revealed an undercover Dedham Police Officer tripped up Sequeira. William Sequeira, 59, has previously claimed that Ben Affleck's character in "The Town" is based on him. 'The Town': Is Charlestown really America's 'bank robbery capital'? They feel we were abused, says Mr. Evers, who adds, Im not rushing to see the movie. Four lifelong friends from the neighborhood of Charlestown, Boston, Douglas "Doug" MacRay, James "Jem" Coughlin, Albert "Gloansy" MacGloan, and Desmond "Dez" Elden, rob a bank. Now William shares his story after his Caught in Providence case went viral.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\rThese are real people, not actors. Sequeira was immediately apprehended. According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery.. William Sequeira, 59, has served long sentences for bank robbery.. FILEA man who claims he's robbed at least 100 banks and that Ben Affleck's character in"The Town" was based on him was held without bail Thursday on charges of robbing two Boston banks and attempting to rob a third, prosecutors said. Check out why Ben Affleck gets it right in Congo. There was already a detective on the scene to intervene and placed Mr. Sequeira under arrest. Ben Affleck plays me in the movie.. Others in the Dunkin Donuts, including William McNelley and his wife, Linda, also defended Charlestowns image. Cranston police spotted the car and took up pursuit. All rights reserved. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Man gets caught robbing banks again - The Boston Globe A Providence man who claims he's robbed at least 100 banks and that Ben Affleck's character in "The Town" was based on him was held without bail Thursday on charges of robbing two Boston banks and attempting to rob a third, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said. June 30, 2020 'The Town' is a scintillating crime drama that grips from its very onset and keeps you hooked till the end. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to a press release from the office of United States. log out. But in recent decades, Charlestown has changed, says Looney. Do celebrities in Africa make you cringe? Area robbery suspects face federal charges - New Bedford Standard-Times Many locals opened their homes to filming for The Town, and they were shocked to see the end results, said Bernie Evers Sr., a townie in his 70s who was relaxing with friends in the Dunkin Donuts. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. an episode of "Caught in Providence" with Judge Frank Caprio, Houston House helps residents get back on their feet, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Police Oversight Committee Eyes Next Steps, Marty the Mini Pony is Looking for a Good Retirement Home, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, Ex-Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief Charged With Child Rape, Defense Team's Claim in Case of Officer's Death Stirs Controversy in Canton, 2 Teens Charged in Unprovoked' Attack on Woman at South Boston MBTA Station, Tens of Thousands of New Englanders Wake Up Monday to No Power, Aerosmith Announces Farewell Tour, Including New Year's Eve Show in Boston. [9][12] Affleck wanted to direct a movie "I personally researched and understood", and invited high school classmate Aaron Stockard to work with him on the script. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Greg Comcowich, Boston Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesman, would not confirm the truth of the movies dramatic claim either. There, it is alleged that Sequeira approached the teller, said Give me hundreds, and then threatened to shoot the teller if they did not move fast enough. "It was just so remarkable that this one very small community was the focus for bank robbers," he said, but he was very aware that crime was only one part of the community, and he did not want to make all residents of the neighborhood look like criminals. A Fall River man with a history of attempted bank robbery was charged in connection with a September incident at a TD Bank branch in Boston. Its not the same town as it was in the early 90s and the 80s., When asked about the films portrayal of Charlestown, Bill Peletier, wearing a green Charlestown Townies sweat shirt at the Dunkin' Donuts, says, Movies are fixated on the bad part. In the movie, Its evident that a lot of it is fiction., But the films portrayal, he says, just doesnt define the town.. Ben Affleck played this real-life bank robber in 'The Town'. Donald Lafond and Sequeira fled into the woods, but were soon captured by police, who found a loaded .357-caliber pistol on Sequeira and a .22-caliber pistol in the snow near Donald Lafond. Convicted bank robber arrested again after several recent holdups Join Facebook to connect with William Sequeira and others you may know. In the hours following the arrests, police charged Sequeira and Donald Lafond with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. King in turn showed it to Warner Bros. studio, who agreed to make an adaptation directed by Lyne and written by Sheldon Turner. Thats a pretty good conclusion, Comcowich says. But residents beg to differ with the movies portrayal of the area. Doug tells Claire of his search for his long-lost mother, who he believes went to live with his aunt in Tangerine, Florida. He was asking for leniency with regard to some traffic tickets. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. [14][15] The former MASSBank branch located in Melrose, Massachusetts, was used as the location for the first robbery of the film, taking on the name Cambridge Merchants Bank[16] (the exterior shots, however, are of Cambridge Savings Bank in Harvard Square). 2023 Cox Media Group. Rebecca Hall (l.) and Ben Affleck appear in 'The Town. You notice were still here., Bob Fitzpatrick, a retired townie who says he was paid $107 to be an extra in The Town, says he grew up in a family of 14 kids. Watching from across the street via binoculars, he sees the FBI are with her as she tells him to come over. Police had that location under surveillance and were able to arrest Sequeira after he allegedly went from one teller to the next, demanding "give me hundreds.". And because of the depth of its characters and the stellar performances of its cast, its hard not to wonder if it is actually based on the lives of real people. This set includes the previously released theatrical and extended cut Blu-ray disc as well as a second Blu-ray disc and a DVD which feature a new extended cut with an alternate, darker ending. They then fled outside. They also argued that there are identification issues in the cases. Their next job, an armored car robbery in the North End, goes awry, and they barely escape. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. https://www.caughtinprovidence.com/ The hour-long chase drew state police and officers from Johnston, Coventry and Hopkinton, R.I., as it proceeded onto Routes 295 and 95. All rights reserved, Mass. "[30] The reviewers at Spill.com also praised one of the shootout scenes, saying "It is surely the best shootout scene we have seen in decades. I got a job! Sequeira interrupted. (CNN/WBZ-TV) A Providence man accused of trying to rob a bank in Boston has been charged in another bank robbery in. When Frawley learns Claire quit her job, he taps her phone, shows his file on Doug to her, and threatens to prosecute her as an accomplice. Later, while she is gardening, Claire finds a buried bag containing money, a tangerine, and a note from Doug that suggests that she can make better use of the money than he can and that they might see each other again. Now much of the neighborhood has been gentrified. The film ends with a written disclaimer: "Charlestown's reputation as a breeding ground for armed robbers is authentic. Moreover, although the story of the movie is purely a work of fiction, it actually passes references to several real-life crimes. The reason the detective was there is he is also a suspect in a robbery in Dedham.. I dont think we want to officially comment on whether a certain place has a higher count of robberies than another place, he says. The film was released in the United States on September 17, 2010. He still cares about us, Looney says. Prosecutors revealed he's also suspected in a September 27 Santander Bank robbery on Berkeley Street and another robbery the following day at M&T Bank on Boylston Street. BOSTON At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. The Town, a crime-thriller film released in 2010, was directed by Ben Affleck, who also starred as the main antagonist, Doug Macray. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. subscription. Sequeira was arrested Wednesday afternoon, allegedly caught in the act of robbing the Citizens Bank branch at Berkeley and Boylston Streets in Boston. Fall River Bank Robber Caught Allegedly Trying to Rob a Bank Fall River police were able to help law enforcement officials connect the dots, after a September bank robbery on Rodman Street. 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But their statistics do show that Charlestown has barely more than 2 percent of all Boston robberies, not just bank robberies. Alleged bank robber who claimed he inspired 'The Town' to - MSN In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. A third defendant, William Sequeira, 34, of Boston, is scheduled to be sentenced next month. According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery. or call us at 1-617-450-2300. But as depicted in the movie, the task force had recently busted a gang which was very similar to the movies AK-47-wielding crew. Doug asks Claire to go away with him, and she accepts. Philip Lafond was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, the getaway car. Science Monitor has expired. [citation needed], The film took #1 at the box office during its opening weekend, taking in $23.8 million. Sequeira told him when he was caught, he had half a million dollars hidden in his fridge in milk containers. Frawley spots Jem and they exchange gunfire in which Jem is severely wounded. William Sequeira, 59, was charged in Boston Municipal Court Central with two counts of armed robbery of a bank and one count of attempted armed robbery of a bank. BOSTON - An infamous criminal, who claims he's robbed more than 100 banks, was arrested in an attempted heist in the Back Bay. Against the wishes of Doug, Jem takes bank manager Claire Keesey hostage but later releases her unharmed. If its on TV, Ill watch it. Bostons historic Freedom Trail ends in Charlestown, home to the Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). Explore them here. Video recorded the dramatic moment police took Sequeira into custody. However, one must not forget that the movie only draws some inspiration from Charlestowns past and is no way implying that the Boston neighborhood is still replete of crime. 'The Town': Is Charlestown really America's 'bank robbery capital'? Thanks to diligent investigative work he was apprehended before anyone got injured, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. He allegedly approached a teller and stated, give me all the hundreds in the drawer, and give me all the money before I blow your brains out. He then fled on foot. He used to work for. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to a press release from the office of United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. New Bedford brothers sentenced for bank robberies Frawley deduces that Claire tipped him off, but her tip is too cryptic to provide grounds for an arrest. The film premiered on September 8, 2010, at the Venice Film Festival before being released in the United States on September 17, 2010. The site's critical consensus reads, "Tense, smartly written, and wonderfully cast, The Town proves that Ben Affleck has rediscovered his museand that he's a director to be reckoned with. Federal officials last March also charged Donald Lafond in connection with bank robberies in Boston. School security lapses exposed:This Freetown mom tried to expose school security failures. The movie brought in over $154 million worldwide and was named one of the top 10 movies of 2010. . Whitehouse said he will refer the case to a federal grand jury. you are agreeing to our. The scenes in this flower shop, labeled as 'Town Flowers' in the movie, were filmed in an actual shop known as Thornton Flower Shop, 111 Dorchester Street. Well, if statistics can't prove that Charlestown is the bank robbery capital of America, then it must not be, right? In 2003, Paramount Pictures had optioned the rights to Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves before it was even published, and Dick Wolf signed on to produce before the project fell through. [4][5] It also stars Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper and Slaine, and follows a Boston bank robber who begins to develop romantic feelings for a victim of one of his previous robberies, while he and his crew set out to get one final score by robbing Fenway Park. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW. At first, he thinks she means to betray him, but she gives a clue verbally to warn him away. A deeper view that unites instead of divides, connecting why the story matters to you. According to the charging documents, Sequeira entered the TD Bank branch on Union Street in Boston Sept. 30. [21], On February 5, 2012, to promote the upcoming The Town: Ultimate Collector's Edition set, the AMC Loews Boston Common theater hosted an "exclusive engagement" of The Town (Take 2), wherein three showings of the film were shown with the alternate ending featured in the new home media release. Knowing that Claire is in danger and that he will never escape as long as Fergie is alive, Doug kills both him and his bodyguard Rusty, and calls Claire. But after his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on charges of robbing three Boston banks over the last week, it might be some time before he ever gets his freedom back. William Sequeira, 59, of Providence, was arrested on Wednesday during an attempted robbery of the Citizen's Bank located at 426 Boylston Street in the Back Bay, police said. Boston 25 News facebook feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News twitter feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News youtube feed(Opens a new window), School administrators: Create a closings account, Caught in the act: Accused bank robber who says Ben Affleck played him busted during heist spree, Deepest condolences: Boston Childrens Hospital pays $15M to family of baby who died during study, Hopkintons former deputy police chief indicted on child rape charges, Hingham Police officer accused of brandishing gun while off duty on Stoneham roadway, 12-year-old girl suffers cardiac episode during soccer practice, 4 men from Mass., NH arrested in Lawrence-based drug trafficking ring, federal authorities say. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Affleck and Stockard conducted many interviews with the Charlestown community, as well as the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force in Boston. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. William Sequeira said in 2020 to Providence Judge Frank Caprio on his web series "Caught in Providence" that Ben Affleck's character was based on him. A judge ordered Sequeira to stay away from Boston and the banks involved. The Monitor Daily amplifies and clarifies how we deliver on the Monitors purpose, to benefit humanity by reporting what is happening in the world and why and how this information matters to you. Plenty of people rob and steal in other communities, but they dont get the press bashing that Charlestown does, townies complain. continue to use the site without a He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to United States Attorney Rachael Rollins. Now she's facing charges. Fall River man who says he inspired Affleck movie charged in robbery He even got in touch with FBI Violent Crimes Task Force in Boston who gave him insights on the fact that most bank robberies are committed by drug addicts. The next day, prosecutors say, officers were called to the M&T Bank on Boylston Street around 3:55 p.m. and demanded money, saying Im going to put a gun to your head if you dont give me $100 bills. He left with $388. I talked to people involved in the movie, people who allowed them to use their homes. Caught in a firefight with FBI SWAT operators, Dez and Gloansy are killed. The Town is Ben Affleck's new thriller set in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown. Man claiming he inspired 'The Town' charged with robbing Boston banks On Wednesday, Sequeira was on the move again, traveling from his home in Providence to Boston, unaware that the Joint Violent Crime Task Force was already on his tail. Now William shares his story after his Caught in Providence case went viral.-----. [10] Lynn's vision for the project was a 3-3.5 hour Martin Scorsese styled film with a budget of 90 million dollars, this led to creative differences with the studio and the eventual departure of Lynn from the project. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and faces a sentence of up to . Monitor journalism changes lives because we open that too-small box that most people think they live in. William Sequeira, 59, faces one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, with the former charged carrying up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and. Its about time Hollywood produced something nice about Charlestown, they said. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. However, unlike the movie, this shop is actually located in South Boston, not Charlestown. EPHS names students to 2022-23 third quarter honor roll View the profiles of people named William Sequeira. In some cases, he demanded money and threatened to shoot bank tellers. At Fenway, Doug and Jem enter disguised as Boston police officers, steal $3,500,000 in gate cash, and prepare to escape in an ambulance while disguised as paramedics. Instead of coming off as a regular heist movie, the film compromises on the efficiency of its heists, and instead, focuses more on its characters and its well-established Charlestown setup. Charlestown locals also joined the cast, mostly as extras. After finding out that Claire lives in their neighborhood, Doug follows her to find out how much she has told the police and to ensure that the hot-headed Jem does not eliminate her as a witness. He was ordered held on $50,000 bail Thursday, and is next scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 3 for a pre-trial hearing. In Boston Municipal Court, Sequeira briefly arged with his own lawyer as he was arguing for low bail. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. A judge set bail at $50,000.00 and Sequeira was sent back to jail where, its likely no one will confuse him with Ben Affleck. Accused bank robbery suspect who says Ben Affleck played him in - MSN This is a person who has clearly not learned from his prior arrests and convictions. Its sad, Peletier says. Prosecutors revealed he's also suspected in a September. It is alleged that surveillance footage of the robbery and subsequent interviews positively identified Sequeira as the robber. In a stroll of Charlestown on a sunny day, its hard to believe this tiny Boston neighborhood could be the bank robbery capital of America the Warner Bros. hype about Ben Afflecks new film The Town, which opens Friday. Mr. Peletier has a lot of company. Boston. Caught in the act: Accused bank robber who says Ben Affleck played him William Sequeira, 59, of Providence, Rhode Island, was arraigned Thursday in Boston Municipal Court on a charge of attempted unarmed bank robbery, according to the Boston Police Department.. [22][additional citation(s) needed], On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Town has an approval rating of 92% based on 235 reviews, with an average rating of 7.70/10. His plan works, and she does not talk. Ive got an apartment. Watch the movie. What we know after a Fall River man was killed outside the Cadillac Lounge. Angered, Jem fights him and says that he is in too deep to walk away. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. So many viewers must be wondering if bank robbery actually became a family trade in Charlestown? The couple cites a long history of involvement with Charlestown youths, through the Kiwanis Club, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Bunker Hill Day parade. Providence stabbing:What we know after a Fall River man was killed outside the Cadillac Lounge. [29] The film also takes influence from Boston bank robbery film The Friends of Eddie Coyle; several scenes in The Town, including the release of the blindfolded hostage to walk to the water's edge, mirror sequences in this film. Claire tells Doug she saw a tattoo on one of the robbers but did not tell the FBI, and he realizes that she can identify Jem and send them all to prison. While Affleck had grown up in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, he barely knew the harsh inner-city environment of Charlestown. William Sequeira, 59, was indicted this week on four counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, the United States Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins announced. Man Who Claims to be Inspiration for Ben Affleck's Character in 'The Its likely he may be charged with a fourth, as well as a recent bank robbery in Fall River. The paper reported there is some sense of rivalry between Townies, people who lived in the historically Irish-Catholic neighborhood for decades, and "Toonies", largely white-collar workers who arrived with gentrification, but most of that has died down. According to prosecutors, a man told the teller to give me a hundred dollar bill or Ill shoot you.He left with $500. In a new complaint, filed this week in U.S. District Court, Providence, Whitehouse charged the men with armed bank robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. The Boston Police Department's Bank Robbery task force tackled William Sequeira inside the Citizens Bank on Boylston Street Wednesday afternoon, I-Team sources said. [18] The Town grossed $92.1 million in the United States and Canada with an additional $61.8 million in other territories for a total of $154 million worldwide on a production budget of $37 million. The prosecution also said Sequeira is suspected in three more robberies in Boston, Dedham and New Bedford. [13], Filming began in late August 2009 in Boston. Caught in the act: Accused bank robber who says Ben Affleck played him Brick houses and old-fashioned gaslights line Charlestowns narrow colonial streets, and ordinary folks bustle about the Dunkin Donuts, and the CVS drugstore. [19][3], The film was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on December 17, 2010. At separate points during the chase, Sequeira pointed a pistol at a pursuing officer and the men threw a large quantity of money, marked with red dye from an exploding dye pack, from the car. Sequeira was once featured in an episode of the show "Caught in Providence." A Fall River man with a history of attempted bank robbery was charged in connection with a September incident at a TD Bank branch in Boston. During a visit to his father, Stephen, in prison, Doug shares his plan to leave Boston for Florida. Earlier that day, the intersection of Tremont and Avery streets was temporarily renamed "The Town Take 2 Place" in a small ceremony, attended by Welliver and Boston city officials. Infamous bank robber William Sequeira arrested in attempted Back Bay heist Within that subgenre, which includes The Boondock Saints, The Departed, Mystic River and Affleck's Gone Baby Gone, The Town is more of a straightforward crime-procedural and has a more optimistic outlook. Soon, a romance grows between them, which Doug hides from the gang. ', This website uses cookies to We Ever see the movie, The Town? Sequeira asked Judge Frank Caprio.