By continuing to browse the site [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. Behind the news are values that drive people and nations. Please keep that in mind when you comment. In the last week, William Sequeira drew the heat big time, allegedly robbing a series of banks in Fall River and Boston. William Sequeira claims to have robbed 150 banks and inspired the character Ben Affleck portrayed in the heist movie, "The Town." But when he walked into the Citizens Bank in the Back Bay . A witness reported seeing a man run from the bank into a car with Massachusetts plates. Members of the Gang Unit told Vertentes that the suspect resembledan individual suspected of multiple bank robberies in and around Boston. But he also said he was trying to turn his life around, making deliveries for a produce company, and said he didn't ever want to end up in prison again. 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. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Caught in a firefight with FBI SWAT operators, Dez and Gloansy are killed. Peter Looney, a townie who hosts a local TV show called Charlestown Live, went to the Boston premire of The Town Tuesday night at Bostons Fenway Park, where Affleck appeared. View the profiles of people named William Sequeira. One month free trial to the Monitor Daily. "I'm going to put a gun to your head if you don't give me $100 bills" the M&T Bank robber said, according to prosecutors. Moreover, although the story of the movie is purely a work of fiction, it actually passes references to several real-life crimes. The movie itself aspires to create a cinematic representation of Boston and in no way attempts to antagonize Charlestown or its people. William Sequeira, 59, has previously claimed that Ben Affleck's character in "The Town" is based on him. [34][36] The film makes reference to the definition of "Toonies" during one of Doug and Claire's dates. William Sequeira was arrested after fleeing the scene of a robbery and crashing his car. The reason the detective was there is he is also a suspect in a robbery in Dedham.. A judge set bail at $50,000.00 and Sequeira was sent back to jail where, its likely no one will confuse him with Ben Affleck. Sequeira was once featured in an episode of the show "Caught in Providence." Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. In Boston Municipal Court, Sequeira briefly arged with his own lawyer as he was arguing for low bail. First published on October 5, 2022 / 11:09 PM. A lawyer said Sequeira is currently unemployed due to COVID. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to United States Attorney Rachael Rollins. Ben Affleck played this real-life bank robber in 'The Town'. At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. This Freetown mom tried to expose school security failures. BOSTON - An infamous criminal, who claims he's robbed more than 100 banks, was arrested in an attempted heist in the Back Bay. 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. [9][11] By 2008, The Town was decided as the title and Ben Affleck, fresh off his directorial debut in Gone Baby Gone, was brought in by Warner Bros. to serve as the films star, director and co-writer. You can renew your subscription or [25], Roger Ebert gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, praising Renner's performance and Affleck's direction. In fact, there were 23 reported bank robberies in the entire state of Massachusetts in the first quarter of 2010, compared with 49 in Illinois and 136 in California, according to the FBI.[34]. Your subscription to But as depicted in the movie, the task force had recently busted a gang which was very similar to the movies AK-47-wielding crew. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. [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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. 19802023 The Christian Science Monitor. 2023 www.southcoasttoday.com. Thats me. Do celebrities in Africa make you cringe? Out of curiosity.. Charlestown locals also joined the cast, mostly as extras. an episode of "Caught in Providence" with Judge Frank Caprio, Houston House helps residents get back on their feet, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. 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. Frawley spots Jem and they exchange gunfire in which Jem is severely wounded. [13], Filming began in late August 2009 in Boston. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Shocked that Doug was one of her assailants, she cooperates with the FBI and breaks up with him. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. But after his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on charges of robbing three Boston banks over the last week,. School security lapses exposed:This Freetown mom tried to expose school security failures. He also told Pacheco that he had been on an episode of "Caught in Providence" with Judge Frank Caprio. Plenty of people rob and steal in other communities, but they dont get the press bashing that Charlestown does, townies complain. Its not the same town as it was in the early 90s and the 80s., When asked about the films portrayal of Charlestown, Bill Peletier, wearing a green Charlestown Townies sweat shirt at the Dunkin' Donuts, says, Movies are fixated on the bad part. In the movie, Its evident that a lot of it is fiction., But the films portrayal, he says, just doesnt define the town.. Join Facebook to connect with William Sequeira and others you may know. / CBS Boston. [citation needed], The film took #1 at the box office during its opening weekend, taking in $23.8 million. 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. Its likely he may be charged with a fourth, as well as a recent bank robbery in Fall River. 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. [citation needed], The Town was shown at the Venice Film Festival and premiered at Boston's Fenway Park. Boston's historic Freedom Trail ends in Charlestown, home to the Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). During his investigation, Vertentes shared photographs of the robbery suspect within the department in hopes of identifying him. Sequeira was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon, the .357 Magnum. The couple cites a long history of involvement with Charlestown youths, through the Kiwanis Club, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Bunker Hill Day parade. According to the charging documents, on Sept. 30, a white male later identified as Sequeira entered the TD Bank branch on Union Street in Boston. They feel we were abused, says Mr. Evers, who adds, Im not rushing to see the movie. The first was a bank robbery at the Santander Bank on September 27. 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. 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. Earlier that day, the intersection of Tremont and Avery streets was temporarily renamed "The Town Take 2 Place" in a small ceremony, attended by Welliver and Boston city officials. [29] The film also takes influence from Boston bank robbery film The Friends of Eddie Coyle; several scenes in The Town, including the release of the blindfolded hostage to walk to the water's edge, mirror sequences in this film. 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. Your honor, attorney Sam Cheng began, My client, because of covid, hes unemployed right now. Here's a picture of Charlestown's Old Sullys at 56 Union Street which was another filming . 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. Its sad, Peletier says. FBI Special Agent Adam Frawley recognizes their ties to local Irish mobster Fergus "Fergie" Colm. William Sequeira, 34, of Boston, and two brothers, Philip Lafond, 33, of Acushnet, and Donald R. Lafond Jr., 37, of New Bedford, already face state charges in connection with the robbery, at. People can draw their own conclusions.. 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. 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. Investigators believe Sequeira was also the suspect responsible for the first two robberies. Caprio seemed intrigued by his story. Providence stabbing:What we know after a Fall River man was killed outside the Cadillac Lounge. They then fled outside. 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. The paper reported there is some sense of rivalry between Townies, people who lived in the historically Irish-Catholic neighborhood for decades, and "Toonies", largely white-collar workers who arrived with gentrification, but most of that has died down. 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. The robbery attempt. "The bottom line is, the statistics speak for themselves, Mr. Comcowich says. Watching from across the street via binoculars, he sees the FBI are with her as she tells him to come over. At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. Within that subgenre, which includes The Boondock Saints, The Departed, Mystic River and Affleck's Gone Baby Gone, The Town is more of a straightforward crime-procedural and has a more optimistic outlook. unless you renew or Now William shares his story after his Caught in Providence case went viral.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\rThese are real people, not actors. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. But after his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on charges of robbing three Boston banks over the last week,. Right now, Sequeira is charged with three Boston bank robberies. FBI found over $500,000 . At about 3pm, as an undercover Dedham Police officer warned the Citizens Bank manager about the possibility that Sequeira might rob the bank, in walked Sequeira wearing a hospital mask and a cap. [18] The Town grossed $92.1 million in the United States and Canada with an additional $61.8 million in other territories for a total of $154 million worldwide on a production budget of $37 million. Sequeira was placed in handcuffs and taken into custody after an apparent bank robbery spree. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The Boston Police Department's Bank Robbery task force tackled. I-Team: Serial bank robber arrested for attempted heist in Back Bay. June 30, 2020 'The Town' is a scintillating crime drama that grips from its very onset and keeps you hooked till the end. Sequeira was arrested Wednesday afternoon, allegedly caught in the act of robbing the Citizens Bank branch at Berkeley and Boylston Streets in Boston. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lovegreen ordered the men held pending further investigation. Four lifelong friends from the neighborhood of Charlestown, Boston, Douglas "Doug" MacRay, James "Jem" Coughlin, Albert "Gloansy" MacGloan, and Desmond "Dez" Elden, rob a bank. 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. William Sequeira, 34, of Boston, and two brothers, Philip Lafond, 33, of Acushnet, and Donald R. Lafond Jr., 37, of New Bedford, already face state charges in connection with the robbery, at gunpoint, of $6,100 from the First Bank & Trust Co. at 645 Reservoir Ave. The attorney placed his hand in front of Sequeiras face urging him to keep quiet. ', This website uses cookies to Frawley interrogates them but is forced to release them. Charles Hogan got the idea for his novel, on which the film is based, in 1995. The film ends with a written disclaimer: "Charlestown's reputation as a breeding ground for armed robbers is authentic. Prosecutors revealed he's also suspected in a September 27 Santander Bank robbery on Berkeley Street and another robbery the following day at M&T Bank on Boylston Street. 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. The latest charges stem from three new incidents. [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. subscription yet. 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. Sequeira told him when he was caught, he had half a million dollars hidden in his fridge in milk containers. However, one must not forget that the movie only draws some inspiration from Charlestowns past and is no way implying that the Boston neighborhood is still replete of crime. improve functionality and performance. His plan works, and she does not talk. Their next job, an armored car robbery in the North End, goes awry, and they barely escape. The Town is Ben Affleck's new thriller set in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown. Stay up to date with everything Boston. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to United States Attorney Rachael Rollins. Others in the Dunkin Donuts, including William McNelley and his wife, Linda, also defended Charlestowns image. According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery. According to a September 2010 article in The Boston Globe, Charlestown was once known as an area where bank robbers were concentrated, but has not been since the mid-1990s, and the subject has been a sore point for "Townies". On Oct. 5, law enforcement surveilling the Back Bay area in an effort to locate Sequeira spotted him entering a Citizens Bank branch on Boylston Street in Boston. William Sequeira, 59, faces one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, with the former charged carrying up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and. Whitehouse said he will refer the case to a federal grand jury. This set includes the previously released theatrical and extended cut Blu-ray disc as well as a second Blu-ray disc and a DVD which feature a new extended cut with an alternate, darker ending. 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. A lot of us turned out pretty good, he says. 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 first, he thinks she means to betray him, but she gives a clue verbally to warn him away. If its on TV, Ill watch it. The federal charge of bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. So ultimately, although there seems to be some truth to the films depiction of Charlestown, its authenticity should be taken with a grain of salt. He allegedly approached the teller, said Give me hundreds, and then threatened to shoot the teller if they did not move fast enough. Is it even true that this wedge-shaped, one-square-mile neighborhood claims title to the bank robbery capital of America? 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. William Sequeira, 59, was indicted this week on four counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, the United States Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins announced. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW. 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. He was asking for leniency with regard to some traffic tickets. Cranston police spotted the car and took up pursuit. The Town, a crime-thriller film released in 2010, was directed by Ben Affleck, who also starred as the main antagonist, Doug Macray. 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. King in turn showed it to Warner Bros. studio, who agreed to make an adaptation directed by Lyne and written by Sheldon Turner. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. This is a person who has clearly not learned from his prior arrests and convictions. However, unlike the movie, this shop is actually located in South Boston, not Charlestown. 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 court a prosecutor revealed an undercover Dedham Police Officer tripped up Sequeira. Charlestown hopes not Affleck's new film is the talk of the Townies", "Robbed of its new image? Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. While Affleck had grown up in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, he barely knew the harsh inner-city environment of Charlestown. Police Oversight Committee Eyes Next Steps, Marty the Mini Pony is Looking for a Good Retirement Home, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, Ex-Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief Charged With Child Rape, Defense Team's Claim in Case of Officer's Death Stirs Controversy in Canton, 2 Teens Charged in Unprovoked' Attack on Woman at South Boston MBTA Station, Tens of Thousands of New Englanders Wake Up Monday to No Power, Aerosmith Announces Farewell Tour, Including New Year's Eve Show in Boston. [24] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale. 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. 2023 www.heraldnews.com. Using a firearm in a crime of violence brings a mandatory sentence of 5 years in prison. But residents beg to differ with the movies portrayal of the area. Caprio ended up wiping out his $150 in traffic tickets thanks to a donation he received for "someone who deserves a break. He was taken into custody moments later. 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. Its gentrified and diverse now. [8][9] In 2006, director Adrian Lyne brought the novel to producer Graham King. Sequeira was arrested at the third incident, when police say he attempted to rob a Citizens Bank on Boylston Street. The police officer stood behind Seqeira in line, and when he heard Sequeira making his demand, the officer took Sequeira down to the ground. Moreover, even the films Charlestown setup makes you wonder if it draws its inspiration from real crimes of the Boston neighborhood. Many locals opened their homes to filming for The Town, and they were shocked to see the end results, said Bernie Evers Sr., a townie in his 70s who was relaxing with friends in the Dunkin Donuts. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "This is a person who has clearly not learned from his prior arrests and convictions," Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement. Now she's facing charges. What we know after a Fall River man was killed outside the Cadillac Lounge. We In the early 1990s, an increase in the number of bank and armored car robberies by Townies focused attention on Charlestown. Two men entered the First Bank and Trust at 1005 a.m. on Dec. 11. Fall River police were able to help law enforcement officials connect the dots, after a September bank robbery on Rodman Street. Ben Affleck played this real-life bank robber in 'The Town'. 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. Townies, those born and raised here, don't take kindly to being. Mr. Peletier has a lot of company. The hour-long chase drew state police and officers from Johnston, Coventry and Hopkinton, R.I., as it proceeded onto Routes 295 and 95. William Sequeira said in 2020 to Providence Judge Frank Caprio on his web series "Caught in Providence" that Ben Affleck's character was based on him. "[23] Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 74 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Sequeira appeared on the local legal television show Caught in Providence two years ago, Boston25 reported. A deeper view that unites instead of divides, connecting why the story matters to you. On the TV show "Caught in Providence", Sequeira bragged that the movie "The Town" starring Ben Affleck is based on his life. The Christian Science Monitor has expired. 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. Your session to The Christian Ever see the movie, The Town? Sequeira asked Judge Frank Caprio. 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. 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. "[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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Frawley notes that this incident led to the passing of regulations prohibiting the driver from leaving the cab even if his partner is being held at gunpoint. The actors remarks, Mr. Looney says, made it clear that the movie is in no way a poor reflection on the people of Charlestown. Hollywood will do anything that will sell tickets. [21], On February 5, 2012, to promote the upcoming The Town: Ultimate Collector's Edition set, the AMC Loews Boston Common theater hosted an "exclusive engagement" of The Town (Take 2), wherein three showings of the film were shown with the alternate ending featured in the new home media release. A judge ordered Sequeira to stay away from Boston and the banks involved.