A Peabody man pleaded guilty last week in connection with over a dozen armed robberies throughout greater Boston, including robberies in Everett.
Luis Cintron, 41, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. He also pleaded guilty to charges of possession of cocaine and cocaine base with intent to distribute. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2021. In March 2018, Cintron was arrested and charged by criminal complaint.
Cintron was involved in the robbery of 15 convenience stores in the greater Boston area between Dec. 28, 2017 and Feb. 15, 2018. During each of the robberies, which occurred in East Boston, Chelsea, Lynn, Winthrop, Peabody, and Everett, two robbers entered the store wearing masks and wielding a firearm. During a Jan. 8, 2018, robbery in Lynn, one of the robbers fired a gun at a clerk who had followed the robbers out of the store.
Each charge of interfering with commerce by robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of 28 grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least eight years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $8 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Winthrop Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty; Peabody Police Chief Thomas M. Griffin; and Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Richardson of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.