United States of America v. Petar Petyoshin

Boston, Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Armed Bank Robbery.

Over 57 firearms and ammunition seized from defendant's residence

An Edgartown man was sentenced for robbing a Falmouth bank. Defendant zip-tied bank employees and customers, brandished a firearm, placed a purported bomb on the counter and fled the scene in the vehicle of a bank customer.



On April 8, 2023, Petyoshin departed Martha's Vineyard aboard a Steamship Authority vessel at 7 a.m. and arrived at Woods Hole in Falmouth. At approximately 8:58 a.m. on April 8, 2023, Petyoshin entered the Rockland Trust Bank in Falmouth, placed a purported bomb on the teller counter and brandished a firearm. Petyoshin pointed the firearm at the tellers and customers, telling one bank employee, "I'm robbing you,” before having the customers and bank employees zip-tie each other's hands together. Petyoshin then had two tellers place over $20,000 in cash from the bank into a brown bag, took a customer's car keys and fled the scene in the customer's vehicle. Petyoshin then boarded a 1:15 p.m. return ferry to Martha's Vineyard.



Surveillance photos of defendant committing robbery

On May 23, 2023, Petyoshin was arrested on state charges in connection with the robbery. A subsequent search of his residence in Edgartown resulted in the recovery of thousands of dollars in cash bundled together in Rockland Trust money bands, zip ties and clothing items Petyoshin was captured wearing on surveillance footage both before and after the robbery. Additionally, 57 firearms and a large quantity of ammunition were seized during the search. The same jacket worn by Petyoshin during the robbery was recovered during a search of Petyoshin's personal locker at the Oak Bluffs Water Department where he was employed. The investigation also determined that the Facebook page for Petyoshin's clothing store, Dapper Martha's Vineyard, displayed photos of the same clothing – including jacket, sunglasses and wig – he wore during the bank robbery.



Photos from defendant's clothing store advertising same clothing worn during the bank robbery

Immediately following the robbery, Petyoshin made a several thousand-dollar cash downpayment on a lease for a new Mercedes.



Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and John. E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Falmouth and Edgartown Police Departments; Barnstable County Sheriff's Department; and the Cape & Islands District Attorney's Office.

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 100 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.