James P. Monteiro pleads guilty to Worcester bank robberies

An Everett man who robbed several Worcester banks in 2017, including one in which he threatened to shoot a teller, was sentenced Wednesday to up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to numerous charges.

James P. Monteiro, 44, left a number of employees at multiple banks shaken, prosecutor Joseph Simmons said in Worcester Superior Court according to The Telegram & Gazette.

In addition to the teller he threatened to shoot, one bank manager left their job after a robbery, while a teller who was robbed twice was left distraught, he said.

In no robberies was a gun brandished.

In all he robbed or attempted to rob five banks in November 2017, including one bank that was robbed twice.

Monteiro’s lawyer, Peter Lacy, said his client’s crimes were fueled by addiction and he did not intend to harm anyone.

Charges are pending against Monteiro’s alleged getaway driver in one of the robberies, but plea discussions are underway, lawyers said.