Five of Sanford's finest feted for busting heist ring

From left, Det. Chad Allen, Det. Sgt. Matthew Jones, Det. Eric Small, Det. Sarah Howe and Det. John Flewelling. (Courtesy photo)

PORTLAND, Maine - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Maine on Tuesday recognized Sanford Police Detective Sergeant Matthew Jones, Detective Sarah Howe, Detective Eric Small, Detective John Flewelling and Detective Chad Allen for their work in the arrest and prosecution of four bank robbers who robbed several banks in 2013.

Pleading guilty and sentenced were Phillip Gage of Berwick, Daniel Barry of Pembroke, N.H., Brianne Mone of Dover, N.H., and Marvin Eugene Ansteth, Jr. of Somersworth, N.H.

In October 2013, two armed "takeover bank robberies" were committed only one-week apart at Kennebunk Savings Bank in Eliot, Maine and Ocean Communities Federal Credit Union in Sanford, Maine. In both robberies, a male brandished a large revolver threatening numerous tellers. Due to the proximity and violence of both robberies, and the likely connection to three unsolved bank robberies in Somersworth, Exeter, and Alton, N.H., a coordinated pattern bank robbery investigation of all five robberies ensured. The federal, state and local investigation led to the identification and arrest in November of 2013 and subsequent federal conviction of four defendants by guilty plea and to the recovery of the two revolvers used in the Maine robberies.

On June 23, 2014, Phillip Gage was sentenced to 22 years in prison for armed bank robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm and using a firearm during the commission of a bank robbery; he was also ordered to pay $20.054 in restitution. On April 2, 2014, Daniel Barry was sentenced to 63 months in prison for armed bank robbery; he was ordered to pay $15,471 in restitution. On April 2, 2014, Brianne Mone was sentenced to 45 months in prison for aiding and abetting armed bank robbery; she was ordered to pay $10,708 in restitution. On May 22, 2014, Marvin Eugene Ansteth, Jr. was sentenced to 4 ¾ years in prison for armed bank robbery; he was ordered to pay $19,087 in restitution.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine was pleased to recognize the Sanford detectives for their important role in the coordinated investigation of five violent armed bank robberies and the conviction of four criminals who were sentenced to more than 35 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $65,000 in restitution.