Robber Who Hit Salem Bank Sentenced to 10 Years

Salem, MA - A Brockton man was sentenced on Friday in U.S. District Court in Boston for robbing multiple banks in 2014, including the North Shore Bank on Highland Avenue.

James Patterson, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 121 months in prison, three years of supervised release and restitution in of $34,871. Patterson was convicted by a jury following a six-day trial in November 2015.

From April to July 2014, Patterson robbed five banks: the Beverly Bank on Dodge Street in Beverly on April 16th; the People’s United Bank on Dodge Street in Beverly on May 10th; the Century Bank on Fellsway West in Somerville on June 4th; the South Shore Bank on Turnpike Street in Stoughton on June 12th; and the North Shore Bank on Highland Avenue in Salem on July 20th. On each occasion, Patterson wore sunglasses, gloves, and covered his lower face with a bandana or clothing. After entering each bank, Patterson announced that it was a robbery and demanded large bills from the bank tellers.

Patterson was arrested on Aug. 4, 2014, near the Century Bank on Cambridge Street in Burlington carrying a black BB gun that had the appearance of a semi-automatic pistol. At the time of his arrest, Patterson was wearing a hat, sunglasses, long pants pulled over shorts, a heavy pullover top and latex gloves. The lower part of his face was covered with black clothing.