Prosecutor: Wheelman in bank robberies gets 6-plus years in jail

Gary W. Bornman was sentenced to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

NEW HAVEN — A local man who authorities said was the wheelman in two bank robberies while on federal supervised release will spend more than six years in federal prison for the crimes, according to prosecutors.

Judge Robert N. Chatigny on Tuesday sentenced Gary W. Bornman, 59, of New Haven, to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Bornman was arrested on Feb. 12, 2020. On July 31, he pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery.

Chatigny sentenced Bornman to 60 months for the bank robbery offenses, and a consecutive 18 months for the violation of his supervised release conditions.

The incidents happened on Oct. 29, 2019, in East Haven and on Jan. 27, 2020, in Windsor Locks.

During the 2019 incident, authorities said Bornman drove an accomplice to the Citizens Bank at 430 Foxon Blvd. in East Haven. Officials said while Bornman waited outside, his accomplice went into the bank with a disguise that included a red wig, approached the teller and demanded money.

The employee handed over a little more than $1,000.

Authorities said during the 2020 incident, Bornman drove a different accomplice to the People’s United Bank at 20 Main St. in Windsor Locks and waited outside while the accomplice went into the bank, walked up to a teller and showed a note that demanded money. The teller handed over around $1,050.

Prosecutors said Bornman’s car was seen on surveillance footage from a nearby house in the Windsor Locks case.

In 2001, Bornman was sentenced to 235 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for bank robbery and firearm possession offenses. He was released from prison in October 2018.