“Defendant participated in robbery of armed courier who worked for licensed cannabis companies of over $430,000 in cash”
Someone at the US Attorney’s Office in Mass sure knows how to churn out an action-packed thriller. For this latest tale of crime and mayhem, the prosecutors dropped a media release about a “Bridgewater man [pleading] guilty in federal court in Boston [last week] to his role in the [2024] armed robbery of a cash courier working for licensed cannabis companies outside of a bank in Swansea.”
“The defendant and, allegedly, others zip-tied and pepper sprayed the victim before burning the stolen getaway vehicle.”
More from the release: “Steven Madison, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery; one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; one count of brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence; one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled by the Court.”
Madison was arrested in May 2024 and charged along with two others “in connection with the robbery.” According to the prosecutor’s office, “a fourth individual, a former manager for one of the cannabis dispensaries, was later charged in a superseding indictment for his alleged involvement in providing information about the cash pickups at the dispensary and the couriers, for his involvement in planning the robbery and for receiving some of the proceeds.”
Here’s what they say happened: “In the early morning hours of Feb. 19, 2024, Madison and another man stole a rental van from a U-Haul Moving & Storage location in Abington, Mass. Later in the day, an armed courier who worked for a company that provides secure cash transportation services for licensed cannabis companies arrived at a bank in Swansea carrying approximately $436,200 in cash for deposit. Madison and, allegedly, [another one of the defendants] drove the U-Haul van behind the courier. It is alleged that [the other defendant] exited the van wearing a camouflaged vest and pointed a firearm at the courier before zip-tying the courier’s hands behind his back. Madison then exited the U-Haul van and quickly loaded the cash into the vehicle. After trying to disarm the courier, the two men allegedly forced the courier into the back seat of his own car, pepper sprayed him and closed the door.
“Surveillance footage showed that the courier managed to remove one hand from the zip-tie restraints while inside his vehicle, draw his firearm and fire four rounds in the direction of the U-Haul van as it fled the scene, before calling 911. After leaving the bank, it is alleged that Madison and [the other defendant] drove the van to a nearby location in Swansea where [a third defendant] was waiting in an SUV. There, the men allegedly transferred the stolen cash into the getaway SUV, burned the U-Haul van and fled.”
The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. You can read the full statement here.
