"[30] The reviewers at Spill.com also praised one of the shootout scenes, saying "It is surely the best shootout scene we have seen in decades. Stay up to date with everything Boston. BOSTON At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. In some cases, he demanded money and threatened to shoot bank tellers. 'The Town': Is Charlestown really America's 'bank robbery capital'? Alleged bank robber who claimed he inspired 'The Town' to - MSN Doug asks Claire to go away with him, and she accepts. According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery. ', This website uses cookies to Cranston police spotted the car and took up pursuit. 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. 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. [25], Roger Ebert gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, praising Renner's performance and Affleck's direction. [10] Lynn's vision for the project was a 3-3.5 hour Martin Scorsese styled film with a budget of 90 million dollars, this led to creative differences with the studio and the eventual departure of Lynn from the project. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to United States Attorney Rachael Rollins. Philip Lafond was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, the getaway car. 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". In the early 1990s, an increase in the number of bank and armored car robberies by Townies focused attention on Charlestown. We outnumber the bad guys.. I guess the author of the book or the author of the movie might be able to shed more light on that, he adds. The Town is Ben Affleck's new thriller set in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown. Sequeira was once featured in an episode of the show "Caught in Providence." On Oct. 4, Vertentes was able to alert law enforcement in Boston that Sequeira was en route to that city. After finding out that Claire lives in their neighborhood, Doug follows her to find out how much she has told the police and to ensure that the hot-headed Jem does not eliminate her as a witness. Is it even true that this wedge-shaped, one-square-mile neighborhood claims title to the bank robbery capital of America? The hour-long chase drew state police and officers from Johnston, Coventry and Hopkinton, R.I., as it proceeded onto Routes 295 and 95. Monitor journalism changes lives because we open that too-small box that most people think they live in. Yet two years ago, he appeared on the popular "Caught in Providence" TV show and received a reprieve for several outstanding traffic tickets, largely because he expressed remorse for his bank robbing past and a desire to change his life. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. The Town is not based on a true story. Fall River man who says he inspired Affleck movie charged in robbery Sequeira was placed in handcuffs and taken into custody after an apparent bank robbery spree. Ben Affleck played this real-life bank robber in 'The Town'. Using a firearm in a crime of violence brings a mandatory sentence of 5 years in prison. Science Monitor has expired. 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. King in turn showed it to Warner Bros. studio, who agreed to make an adaptation directed by Lyne and written by Sheldon Turner. 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. 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. The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization offering calm, thoughtful, award-winning coverage for independent thinkers. EAST PROVIDENCE Bill Black, Principal, Shane Messier, Assistant Principal, Lian Furtado, Assistant Principal, Bob Hanlon, CTC Director, and the amazing staff of East Providence High School, announce the Honor Roll for the 2022-2023 Third Quarter. According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery. 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. [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. School security lapses exposed:This Freetown mom tried to expose school security failures. Man charged in Fall River bank robbery | WJAR Now much of the neighborhood has been gentrified. 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. 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. Its about time Hollywood produced something nice about Charlestown, they said. "Thanks to diligent investigative work he was apprehended before anyone got injured.". Doug tries to back out of the next heist at Fenway Park. [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. He also claimed to have been involved in the largest police chase in Rhode Island history, after robbing a bank in Cranston. Last year Sequeira appeared on the popular Caught In Providence You Tube channel where he bragged about robbing a hundred banks and even compared himself to Bostons Ben Affleck. Man Who Claims to be Inspiration for Ben Affleck's Character in 'The [8][9] In 2006, director Adrian Lyne brought the novel to producer Graham King. Fall River Bank Robber Caught Allegedly Trying to Rob a Bank Angered, Jem fights him and says that he is in too deep to walk away. BOSTON - An infamous criminal, who claims he's robbed more than 100 banks, was arrested in an attempted heist in the Back Bay. They then fled outside. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. First published on October 5, 2022 / 11:09 PM. He allegedly approached the teller, said Give me hundreds, and then threatened to shoot the teller if they did not move fast enough. 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. He still cares about us, Looney says. Your honor, attorney Sam Cheng began, My client, because of covid, hes unemployed right now. Infamous bank robber William Sequeira arrested in attempted Back Bay heist Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. [33], A voice in the trailer of the film says: "There are over 300 bank robberies in Boston every year. "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. His plan works, and she does not talk. This Freetown mom tried to expose school security failures. We Boston's historic Freedom Trail ends in Charlestown, home to the Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). 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. 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. [citation needed], The Town was shown at the Venice Film Festival and premiered at Boston's Fenway Park. 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. William Sequeira Profiles | Facebook Both versions include special features and an audio commentary including a look at Affleck as a director and actor. 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. If its on TV, Ill watch it. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. In the hours following the arrests, police charged Sequeira and Donald Lafond with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. You dont have a Christian Science Monitor I talked to people involved in the movie, people who allowed them to use their homes. The attorney placed his hand in front of Sequeiras face urging him to keep quiet. 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. Sequeira was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon, the .357 Magnum. But the Boston FBI does track bank robberies nationwide, and its statistics show that the whole state of Massachusetts has fewer than 3 percent of all bank robberies nationwide. Claire donates the money, in memory of Doug's mother, to refurbish the local ice hockey arena in which Doug once played. But youll find in each Monitor news story qualities that can lead to solutions and unite usqualities such as respect, resilience, hope, and fairness. When the film first premiered in 2010, there was some backlash on its representation of the people in Charlestown. Sequeira was immediately apprehended. The movie is actually a loose adaptation of Chuck Hogans novel Prince of Thieves. Charlestown locals also joined the cast, mostly as extras. They don't deserve negative scrutiny. During a visit to his father, Stephen, in prison, Doug shares his plan to leave Boston for Florida. Boston police say they can't verify that: They don't track bank robberies nationwide, and they dont break out bank-robbery statistics from all robbery numbers for the city. You can renew your subscription or The Town, a crime-thriller film released in 2010, was directed by Ben Affleck, who also starred as the main antagonist, Doug Macray. Townies, those born and raised here, don't take kindly to being. [29] Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun Times gave the film an A+, noting that he found the film incredibly similar to Michael Mann's Heat, which he described as "one of [his] favorite movies of all time. subscription yet. 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. Ben Affleck Played Me: A Follow Up - YouTube This is a person who has clearly not learned from his prior arrests and convictions. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. 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]. 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. unless you renew or 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. The first was a bank robbery at the Santander Bank on September 27. Sequeira appeared on the local legal television show Caught in Providence two years ago, Boston25 reported. Right now, Sequeira is charged with three Boston bank robberies. 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. "[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. He used to work for. log out. William Sequeira, 59, has previously claimed that Ben Affleck's character in "The Town" is based on him. Moreover, even the films Charlestown setup makes you wonder if it draws its inspiration from real crimes of the Boston neighborhood. Donald Lafond and Sequeira fled into the woods, but were soon captured by police, who found a loaded .357-caliber pistol on Sequeira and a .22-caliber pistol in the snow near Donald Lafond. 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. 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. Feds: Man charged in Mass. bank robbery spree told tellers he was going https://www.caughtinprovidence.com/ Two men entered the First Bank and Trust at 1005 a.m. on Dec. 11. There was already a detective on the scene to intervene and placed Mr. Sequeira under arrest. We believe news can and should expand a sense of identity and possibility beyond narrow conventional expectations. A supporting affidavit filed with the new complaint confirms and reiterates the sequence of events that police reported in the wake of the robbery and chase. 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. We tackle difficult conversations and divisive issueswe dont shy away from hard problems. But after his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on charges of robbing three Boston banks over the last week,. In Boston Municipal Court, Sequeira briefly arged with his own lawyer as he was arguing for low bail. Ben Affleck plays me in the movie.. William Sequeira appears in Boston Municipal Court, Thursday, Oct 6, 2022. The film premiered on September 8, 2010, at the Venice Film Festival before being released in the United States on September 17, 2010. [citation needed], The film took #1 at the box office during its opening weekend, taking in $23.8 million. 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. In October, Sequeira was caught in the act at a Citizens Bank branch on Boylston Street. Accused bank robbery suspect who says Ben Affleck played him in 'The Video recorded the dramatic moment police took Sequeira into custody. Facebook gives people the. 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. (CNN/WBZ-TV) A Providence man accused of trying to rob a bank in Boston has been charged in another bank robbery in. 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. Charlestown is a nice town no different from any other town. While Affleck had grown up in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, he barely knew the harsh inner-city environment of Charlestown. Affleck and Stockard conducted many interviews with the Charlestown community, as well as the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force in Boston. For instance, one of its bank robberies refers to a real-life robbery in Hudson, New Hampshire in which two-guards got killed. From what Im getting, people dont like it. One month free trial to the Monitor Daily. The Christian Science Monitor has expired. Search in titles only Search in THE MEDICAL MEN AND DOCTOR REPORTS only FBI found over $500,000 . Their next job, an armored car robbery in the North End, goes awry, and they barely escape. They also argued that there are identification issues in the cases. 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. 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). Federal officials last March also charged Donald Lafond in connection with bank robberies in Boston. BOSTON At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. Caprio seemed intrigued by his story. 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.. At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. A judge ordered Sequeira to stay away from Boston and the banks involved. The U.S. Attorney's Office said 59-year-old William Sequeira of Fall River has been charged for robbing a TD Bank branch near Faneuil Hall in Boston, days before he was arrested for trying to rob another bank in the same city. 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.. Thank you.\r---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\rCaught in Providence airs on television weekdays, please visit www.caughtinprovidence.com/showtimes for local listings.\r\rSUBSCRIBE AND FOLLOW:\rFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/caughtinprovidence/\rTwitter: https://twitter.com/caughtinprov\rInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/caughtinprovidence/\rReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CaughtinProvidence/\r\rContact us for sponsorship opportunities! Check out why Ben Affleck gets it right in Congo. Rebecca Hall (l.) and Ben Affleck appear in 'The Town. Now she's facing charges. 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. "[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. Behind the news are values that drive people and nations. Sequeira was arrested Wednesday afternoon, allegedly caught in the act of robbing the Citizens Bank branch at Berkeley and Boylston Streets in Boston. People can draw their own conclusions.. Hollywood will do anything that will sell tickets. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Watching from across the street via binoculars, he sees the FBI are with her as she tells him to come over. Man gets caught robbing banks again - The Boston Globe Although we dont have the exact figures for Charlestowns crime rate in the 90s, statistics suggest that there was indeed a surge in the rate of robberies in Massachusetts in the 80s and 90s, which substantially dropped in the mid-aughts. 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. If you have questions about your account, please So many viewers must be wondering if bank robbery actually became a family trade in Charlestown? [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. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. They suspect Sequeira might return to Boylston Street where two banks were hit in the last few days. All rights reserved, Mass. Doug reluctantly agrees but swears that he will kill Fergie if anything happens to Claire. Caught in the act: Accused bank robber who says Ben Affleck played him Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Your session to The Christian 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. A deeper view that unites instead of divides, connecting why the story matters to you. Infamous bank robber William Sequeira arrested in attempted Back Bay Whitehouse said he will refer the case to a federal grand jury. [11] Later the film's actors also researched within the community to make for more believable characters and performances. Please keep that in mind when you comment. Soon, a romance grows between them, which Doug hides from the gang. In its opening shot itself, the film establishes that it is set in Bostons Charlestown. 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. Sequeira appeared in Boston Municipal Court Thursday and was held on $50,000 bail for bank robbery charges. William Sequeira CBS Boston Sequeira appeared in Boston Municipal Court Thursday and was held on $50,000 bail for bank robbery charges.

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