FBI: Man Touted Robbery Co-Conspirators as 'Pros' 'from Charlestown'

A Medford man recruited two men with lengthy histories of armed robbery and bank robbery whom he touted as being "from Charlestown" to attempt to rob a Norwood check-cashing store, according to an FBI affidavit.

Before his arrest on a conspiracy charge last week John Salvucci of South Medford allegedly told a confidant that his co-conspirators were "real serious guys" who would die before going back to prison, according to an FBI affidavit.

But Salvucci didn't know the confidant, whom he recruited to help rob a check-cashing store in Norwood, was cooperating with the FBI and recorded the conversation.

"(They will) never go back," Salvucci allegedly said in a recorded conversation. "They'll end up dead before they go back."

Salvucci, James Chambers, 53, of Stoneham and George Whalen, 55, of Winthrop all remained jailed on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery after a hearing in U.S. District Court Tuesday.

They were arrested last Wednesday, before they could execute an alleged plan to kidnap the owner of Norwood-based Forest Hills Check Cashing then make him help rob the store.

While Whalen and Chambers don't live in Charlestown anymore, they used to, and the other claims Salvucci made about his co-conspirators fits their descriptions, according to the affidavit, written by FBI special agent Daniel Romanzo.

The investigation began after Salvucci tried to recruit an individual who had knowledge of the layout of the store to help with the job. After tipping off the FBI and agreeing to help with their investigation, they told Salvucci they would help with the robbery.

The witness recorded multiple conversations with Salvucci, and the FBI staked out Salvucci's Princeton Street home leading to the arrests.

When the cooperating witness expressed worry over the plan, and the safety of the store owner, Salvucci allegedly told them: "Nobody's gonna get hurt. These are (expletive) pros. That's all they do...They got all the gear in the world...The only thing they're worried about is the cops. If the cops don't show up, everything's gonna be fine," the affidavit said. He went on to describe the conspirators experience with robberies and said they were "from Charlestown," the affidavit said.

While Whalen and Chambers don't live in Charlestown anymore, they used to and they have ties to the community, the affidavit said. The other claims Salvucci made about his co-conspirators fits their descriptions, according to the affidavit.

Whalen had been released in 2009 after spending 17 years in federal prison. He was convicted in 1992 of attempting to rob an armored car with three other men in Rhode Island, the affidavit said. He was also previously convicted of armed robbery in Massachusetts in 1976 and 1977, the affidavit said.

In 1989, Chambers was convicted on six counts of bank robbery in Massachusetts and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He had also been previously convicted on a charge of armed robbery in 1986 and armed assault with intent to murder in 1980, among other charges, the affidavit said.

Investigators also followed the three men from Salvucci's home to the check cashing business on Jan. 21 and appeared to case it in preparation for the robbery, the affidavit said. An arrest warrant was issued Jan. 24 and all three were arrested Jan. 25.

All three waived a detention hearing Tuesday, which could have potentially set bail conditions. But a probable cause hearing was held for Chambers and Whalen, and after testimony from Romanzo, Magistrate Judge Judith Dein determined there was enough evidence to warrant their arrests. Their next scheduled court date was unavailable Wednesday.