Robber in New Canaan, Stratford, Fairfield cases complains about restitution
BRIDGEPORT — Despite pleading guilty to robbing banks in Fairfield, Stratford and New Canaan, Wayne Currier told a judge on Friday he didn’t think he should get stuck with paying restitution too.
“It’s not fair,” the former New Canaan man told Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo. “There were other guys with me, I shouldn’t have to pay all the restitution.”
But the judge noted that no one else was arrested for robbing the Chase Bank on Main Street in Stratford, The TD Bank branch on Stratford Avenue in Stratford, the former People’s United branch in the Stop and Shop supermarket in Fairfield and the former People’s branch on Main Street in New Canaan.
State’s Attorney Joseph Corradino told Currier he was willing to let him withdraw his guilty pleas to the four crimes and instead go to trial if he chose. “No,” replied Currier. “I just wanted to say I wasn’t happy with the restitution order.”
The judge then sentenced the 49-year-old Currier, who previously pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree robbery and one count of second-degree robbery, to 12 years, suspended after he serves 25 months in prison and followed by five years of probation.
“It seems to me that your activity was fueled by substance abuse,” the judge told Currier.
“Yeah, but I’m getting better,” Currier responded.
Russo ordered Currier to undergo substance abuse treatment and to make restitution to the four banks he robbed.
According to police, on Oct. 13, 2020, Stratford officers were dispatched to the Chase Bank on Main Street for a robbery.
Police said two masked men entered the bank, one pointed a handgun at a teller and handed her a note demanding money. They fled with $1,000, police said.
A short time later, Fairfield police got a call of a robbery at the bank in the supermarket on Kings Highway.
Police said a man approached a teller, pointed a handgun at her and then handed her a note that stated, “This is a robbery.” Police said the man fled with $5,457.
Weeks later, on Oct. 28, 2020, New Canaan police said they received a call of a robbery at the bank there.
Police said two men, wearing “gator” masks approached a teller and handed her a note that stated, “Give me all your money or I will shoot you.” They fled with $9,130, police said.
Then, on Dec. 23, 2020, Stratford police responded to a call at the TB Bank.
Police said the incident played out similarly to the previous ones. But this time, police said the teller was able to slip a GPS tracking device into the bag with several thousands of dollars in cash.
Police said the two men fled to a U-Haul box truck. They said the GPS tracker led officers to a parking lot on Elm Street where surveillance showed the two robbers getting into another car that was eventually traced to Currier.
He was arrested on Jan. 12, 2021. Police said Currier subsequently confessed to the robberies.