A Chelsea, Massachusetts, man accused of a string of bank robberies allegedly delivered threatening letters to bank employees while holding a gun, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts. In one of the letters, he threatened to “kill everyone.”
Keywan Kelly, 29, is accused of crimes in Weymouth, Jamaica Plain and Hyde Park.
According to federal prosecutors, the first incident occurred on July 1, when he entered a Bank of America branch in Weymouth wearing gloves and a mask. He allegedly handed the teller a note demanding $20,000 and pointed a gun at him, threatening to “kill you all.” The teller gave him $15,000 back and allegedly demanded more, verbally threatening to “blow up this place” and “I’m going to kill you all.” The teller gave him about $4,000 to $5,000 more and fled.
The second incident occurred on July 16, when Kelly allegedly entered the Rockland Trust Bank in Jamaica Plain, his face covered with a black balaclava and gloves. He was again armed with a gun and handed over a note that read, “I need $20,000, no dypacks, I have 4 bombs, I’ll kill everyone, fast,” according to prosecutors. He left the bank with $2,480.
The third robbery, on the morning of July 26, followed the same pattern. Kelly is said to have entered the Rockland Trust Bank branch in Hyde Park, again wearing a balaclava and gloves. Prosecutors say the note read something like, “You’re being robbed, give me cash.” He is also accused of pointing the gun at a teller and demanding $20,000. He left the branch with about $3,000 in cash.
Investigators linked Kelly to the Weymouth robbery through bank surveillance and fingerprints found on a getaway vehicle. His cell phone location data placed him at all three locations on the dates and times of the crimes. Investigators also indicated that vehicles linked to Kelly were in the areas at the time of the Jamaica Plain and Hyde Park robberies.
Kelly is charged with three counts of armed bank robbery. If found guilty, he faces up to 25 years in prison, up to five years probation and a fine of up to $250,000.
