Behind the news are values that drive people and nations. 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. At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. Sequeira was arrested Wednesday afternoon, allegedly caught in the act of robbing the Citizens Bank branch at Berkeley and Boylston Streets in Boston. Whitehouse said he will refer the case to a federal grand jury. Explore them here. All rights reserved, Mass. We believe news can and should expand a sense of identity and possibility beyond narrow conventional expectations. BOSTON At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. Your session to The Christian He allegedly approached the teller, said Give me hundreds, and then threatened to shoot the teller if they did not move fast enough. We Doug reluctantly agrees but swears that he will kill Fergie if anything happens to Claire. Doug tries to back out of the next heist at Fenway Park. However, unlike the movie, this shop is actually located in South Boston, not Charlestown. 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. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. BOSTON At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. But instead of solely relying on the content of the novel for the movie, Ben Affleck, who is both the director and actor in the movie, did a lot of his own research to make the film look more realistic. Bostons historic Freedom Trail ends in Charlestown, home to the Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). Most of these professionals live in a 1-square-mile neighborhood called Charlestown." "Thanks to diligent investigative work he was apprehended before anyone got injured.". Was the small community of Charlestown really a locus of bank robbers? On Oct. 4, Vertentes was able to alert law enforcement in Boston that Sequeira was en route to that city. Its prologue says that One blue-collar Boston neighborhood [Charlestown] has produced more bank robbers and armored car thieves than anywhere else in the world. According to the charging documents, Sequeira entered the TD Bank branch on Union Street in Boston Sept. 30. Charlestown hopes not", "Author Hogan talks about his kind of Town", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Town_(2010_film)&oldid=1151377935, Ben Affleck, Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard, This page was last edited on 23 April 2023, at 17:30. "[28] Justin Chang wrote in Variety that the action scenes strike "an ideal balance between kineticism and clarity" aided by cinematographer Robert Elswit and film editor Dylan Tichenor. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. [citation needed], The Town was shown at the Venice Film Festival and premiered at Boston's Fenway Park. The attorney placed his hand in front of Sequeiras face urging him to keep quiet. In one heist in Hudson, New Hampshire, two guards were killed, and is alluded to in the film - during a scene where Agent Frawley is briefing his task force, he mentions that Doug's father is serving life for a notorious robbery in Nashua. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. One of them pointed a handgun at bank employees and told them to get down on the floor while the other jumped over the counter and took money from the teller drawers. Accused bank robbery suspect who says Ben Affleck played him in The Town, appears in court. September 17, 2010 Rebecca Hall (l.) and Ben Affleck appear in 'The Town. Along with Aaron Stockard, who he invited to work with him on the scripts, Affleck interviewed several locals of the Charlestown community. They don't deserve negative scrutiny. Moreover, even the films Charlestown setup makes you wonder if it draws its inspiration from real crimes of the Boston neighborhood. You can renew your subscription or The actors remarks, Mr. Looney says, made it clear that the movie is in no way a poor reflection on the people of Charlestown. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Immediately preceding each screening, a vice president from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment thanked all those in attendance, including Titus Welliver (Dino Ciampa), Dennis McLaughlin (Rusty), and Affleck's mother, for coming out and supporting director Affleck's "preferred" version of the film, leading to a short, prerecorded introduction by Affleck himself. 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. Caught in a firefight with FBI SWAT operators, Dez and Gloansy are killed. By continuing to browse the site During a visit to his father, Stephen, in prison, Doug shares his plan to leave Boston for Florida. This is a person who has clearly not learned from his prior arrests and convictions. Sequeira appeared on the local legal television show Caught in Providence two years ago, Boston25 reported. Video recorded the dramatic moment police took Sequeira into custody. Philip Lafond was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, the getaway car. 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. Mr. Peletier has a lot of company. According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery. Do celebrities in Africa make you cringe? Caprio ended up wiping out his $150 in traffic tickets thanks to a donation he received for "someone who deserves a break. He also talks about how he almost became a professional ice hockey player before he threw it away to follow in his father's footsteps as a bank robber. Our work isn't possible without your support. You dont have a Christian Science Monitor BOSTON - An infamous criminal, who claims he's robbed more than 100 banks, was arrested in an attempted heist in the Back Bay. The Town is Ben Affleck's new thriller set in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown. ', This website uses cookies to Sequeira is also facing charges in Fall River, in connection to a robbery at the Citizens Bank located at 501 Rodman St. Detective Luis Vertentes of the Major Crimes Division was assigned as the lead investigator in this case, according to a press release from FRPD. On the show, he claims Ben Afflecks character in the movie The Town is based on him, and tells the judge that he has robbed more than one hundred banks. And, he says, Its a good movie., Townies cite their pride in growing up in a close-knit neighborhood with traditionally large Irish Catholic families whose members went on to work as priests, politicians, police officers, and firefighters. [37], Massachusetts Correctional Institution Cedar Junction, Learn how and when to remove this template message, DallasFort Worth Film Critics Association, St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association, "Blake Lively Goes to 'Town' for Ben Affleck", "Blake Lively going to 'Town' for WB, Legendary", "10 Actors Who Deserved an Oscar Nomination", "Lyne recruited to mastermind WB's 'Thieves", "Anatomy of a Contender: Making of 'The Town', "Ben Affleck, Blake Lively are the talk of 'The Town', "Blake Gets a Baby Welcome to Ben's Town", "Melrose: 'Lights, cameras, action' in city as Ben Affleck movie shoots locally this month", "Movie projector: 'Easy A' expected to lead 'The Town,' 'Devil,' 'Alpha and Omega', "The Town - Ultimate Collector's Edition (Blu-ray)", "Bunker Hill to Fenway: A Crook's Freedom Trail", "Review: The Town Works Best if You Avoid the Heat", "Robbed of its new image? All rights reserved. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lovegreen ordered the men held pending further investigation. But after his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on charges of robbing three Boston banks over the last week,. William Sequeira was arrested after fleeing the scene of a robbery and crashing his car. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to United States Attorney Rachael Rollins. 2023 www.heraldnews.com. In court a prosecutor revealed an undercover Dedham Police Officer tripped up Sequeira. What we know after a Fall River man was killed outside the Cadillac Lounge. 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. Please keep that in mind when you comment. On the TV show "Caught in Providence", Sequeira bragged that the movie "The Town" starring Ben Affleck is based on his life. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and faces a sentence of up to . Once inside, Sequeira allegedly approached a teller and stated, Give me all the $100s in the drawer, and Give me all the money before I blow your brains out. Sequeira fled on foot after obtaining money from the teller. Science Monitor has expired. Determined to not go back to prison, Jem commits suicide by cop by running out with empty guns in hand. Sequeira was arrested at the third incident, when police say he attempted to rob a Citizens Bank on Boylston Street. His plan works, and she does not talk. Federal officials last March also charged Donald Lafond in connection with bank robberies in Boston. "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. The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization offering calm, thoughtful, award-winning coverage for independent thinkers. Join Facebook to connect with William Sequeira and others you may know. Townies, those born and raised here, dont take kindly to being portrayed in Mr. Afflecks film as a bunch of dumb bums" (to use the words of one resident). Now she's facing charges. [11] Later the film's actors also researched within the community to make for more believable characters and performances. / CBS Boston. I got a job! Sequeira interrupted. The Town is a 2010 American crime drama film co-written, directed by, and starring Ben Affleck, adapted from Chuck Hogan's 2004 novel Prince of Thieves. Sequeira was placed in handcuffs and taken into custody after an apparent bank robbery spree. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. For instance, one of its bank robberies refers to a real-life robbery in Hudson, New Hampshire in which two-guards got killed. Sequeira is a serial bank robber who served decades in prison. Thats me. 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. Caprio seemed intrigued by his story. In Boston Municipal Court, Sequeira briefly arged with his own lawyer as he was arguing for low bail. Prosecutors revealed he's also suspected in a September. According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery. 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. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. 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. They feel we were abused, says Mr. Evers, who adds, Im not rushing to see the movie. [26] In his review for The New York Times, A. O. Scott commented on the opening heist, "That sequence, like most of the other action set pieces in the film, is lean, brutal and efficient, and evidence of Mr. Affleck's skill and self-confidence as a director. subscription yet. Ive got an apartment. 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. 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. In some cases, he demanded money and threatened to shoot bank tellers. Claire donates the money, in memory of Doug's mother, to refurbish the local ice hockey arena in which Doug once played. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), Ben Afflecks character in the movie The Town is based on him, Boston man's November death ruled a homicide; woman facing murder charge, Police: Maine man killed parents before firing on motorists, 4 shot dead in Maine home, gunfire erupts on highway, and a man charged with murder: What we know so far. 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. "[31] Writing in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Laremy Lengel titled his review "The Town Works Best if You Avoid the Heat," also referencing Mann's 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He. At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Facebook gives people the. Ever see the movie, The Town? Sequeira asked Judge Frank Caprio. 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. The reason the detective was there is he is also a suspect in a robbery in Dedham.. The latest charges stem from three new incidents. [8][9] In 2006, director Adrian Lyne brought the novel to producer Graham King. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. 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. [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. When the film first premiered in 2010, there was some backlash on its representation of the people in Charlestown. One month free trial to the Monitor Daily. They also argued that there are identification issues in the cases. He used to work for. [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. Sequeira told him when he was caught, he had half a million dollars hidden in his fridge in milk containers. A Fall River man, who claims to be the inspiration for Ben Affleck's character in the bank heist film "The Town," has been charged in connection with robbing a TD Bank branch in downtown Boston. But youll find in each Monitor news story qualities that can lead to solutions and unite usqualities such as respect, resilience, hope, and fairness. Charlestown hopes not Affleck's new film is the talk of the Townies", "Robbed of its new image? I dont think we want to officially comment on whether a certain place has a higher count of robberies than another place, he says. 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. Charles Hogan got the idea for his novel, on which the film is based, in 1995. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The police officer stood behind Seqeira in line, and when he heard Sequeira making his demand, the officer took Sequeira down to the ground. log out. 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. FBI Special Agent Adam Frawley recognizes their ties to local Irish mobster Fergus "Fergie" Colm. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The robbery attempt. Townies, those born and raised here, don't take kindly to being. Thanks to diligent investigative work he was apprehended before anyone got injured, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. In fact, Officer Eric Pachecoof the Special Operations Division remembered speaking to a man during a detail who told him that Ben Affleck had made a movie "The Town," about a band of bank and armored car thieves in which the main character was based on him. 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. Sequeira was once featured in an episode of the show "Caught in Providence." Now much of the neighborhood has been gentrified. However, this film all but ignores the great majority of the residents of Charlestown, past and present, who are the same good and true people found most anywhere,"[35] to whom the film is dedicated. 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. [32], As a Boston-based crime drama, the film forms part of a "crime-movie subgenre" typically marked by "flavorsome accents, pungent atmosphere and fatalistic undertow", according to Chang. subscription. 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. 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. Investigators believe Sequeira was also the suspect responsible for the first two robberies. Its likely he may be charged with a fourth, as well as a recent bank robbery in Fall River. From what Im getting, people dont like it. Frawley deduces that Claire tipped him off, but her tip is too cryptic to provide grounds for an arrest. continue to use the site without a Boston. Ben Affleck played this real-life bank robber in 'The Town'. Its gentrified and diverse now. In that show he claims to have robbed over 100 banks, and is seen telling a judge that Ben Affleck's bank-robbing character in "The Town" was based on him. 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. School security lapses exposed:This Freetown mom tried to expose school security failures. 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. 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. The WBZ News team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WBZ.com. All rights reserved. The extended/unrated version is a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy bundle which includes 28 minutes of additional footage, taking the runtime to over 153 minutes. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Fall River police were able to help law enforcement officials connect the dots, after a September bank robbery on Rodman Street. [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). 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. Providence stabbing:What we know after a Fall River man was killed outside the Cadillac Lounge. Whitehouse's office said in a statement that the new charges came after an investigation by Cranston Police and the FBI, with the assistance of state police and the Johnston, Coventry and Hopkinton departments. or call us at 1-617-450-2300. 2023 Cox Media Group. Fergie then threatens to kill Claire if Doug does not do the job, and he reveals to him that he controlled his father by making his mother an addict, which led to her suicide. 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. They suspect Sequeira might return to Boylston Street where two banks were hit in the last few days. 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.. In the last week, William Sequeira drew the heat big time, allegedly robbing a series of banks in Fall River and Boston. Monitor journalism changes lives because we open that too-small box that most people think they live in. Greg Comcowich, Boston Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesman, would not confirm the truth of the movies dramatic claim either. Hollywood will do anything that will sell tickets. According to Frawley, the elder MacRay hijacked a "bread truck" (armored car) up to New Hampshire, and when one of the guards saw his face, he executed both of them with their own weapons. He also claimed to have been involved in the largest police chase in Rhode Island history, after robbing a bank in Cranston. 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. 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. [33], A voice in the trailer of the film says: "There are over 300 bank robberies in Boston every year. Both versions include special features and an audio commentary including a look at Affleck as a director and actor. The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Soon, a romance grows between them, which Doug hides from the gang.
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