Lowell Man Charged with Armed Bank Robbery

BOSTON - A Lowell man was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with masked and armed bank robbery.

Jason M. Nobles, 35, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of armed bank robbery. Nobles appeared yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler and was detained pending a detention hearing.

According to the compliant, on Feb. 26, 2018, an individual, later identified as Nobles, entered a branch of the Santander Bank in Swansea, approached a teller’s station, brandished what appeared to be a black semi-automatic pistol, pointed the pistol at the bank’s tellers, and demanded cash. The tellers handed Nobles cash from their drawers and Nobles fled the bank. A post robbery audit determined that Nobles took approximately $15,000.

Having witnessed Nobles depart the bank, run to a neighboring parking lot, and leave the area in a gray Toyota SUV, the bank’s employees were able to provide law enforcement with a vehicle description and the physical description of the robber. Law enforcement across multiple towns worked together to locate the Toyota SUV, stop it, and detain the driver - Nobles - who matched the description of the robber given by the bank’s employees.

Later, when law enforcement executed a search warrant on the vehicle, they found a large sum of money and a black Sig Sauer semi-automatic pellet gun.

The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn; Swansea Police Chief George Arruda; and Rehoboth Police Chief James J. Trombetta made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the court documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.