Three suspects indicted on federal charges related to Vineyard bank robbery

Rasheek Tabassum Mujib, Cape Cod Times
·3 min read

Three men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with the Nov. 17 armed bank robbery of Rockland Trust Bank in Tisbury on Martha’s Vineyard, according to the U.S. Department of Justice on March 16.

Miquel Antonio Jones, 39, of Edgartown, and Omar Odion Johnson, 32, of Canterbury, N.H., were each indicted on one count of armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting.

Romane Andre Clayton, 21, of Jamaica, was indicted on one count of being an accessory after the fact to armed bank robbery.

Jones, Johnson and Clayton will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to the Justice Department.

Three armed and masked individuals robbed a Rockland Trust Bank on Nov. 17, 2022, in Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard, according to the police and federal prosecutors. The individuals entered the rear door of the bank wearing dark clothing and masks resembling an older man with exaggerated facial features.
Three armed and masked individuals robbed a Rockland Trust Bank on Nov. 17, 2022, in Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard, according to the police and federal prosecutors. The individuals entered the rear door of the bank wearing dark clothing and masks resembling an older man with exaggerated facial features.

Attorneys for Jones and Johnson were not immediately available for comment Friday.

Two of the men remain in custody, and one was released with conditions

Miquel A Jones was arrested Nov. 18 after he was stopped by police while driving. Johnson was arrested Nov. 26 during a car stop in New Haven, Connecticut, and Clayton was arrested Dec. 9 in Connecticut.

Following their arrests, Jones and Johnson pleaded not guilty in state court to armed robbery and conspiracy. Bail for each man was set at $300,000 with conditions. The pair remained in custody as of March 16, according to the Justice Department.

Clayton was released on conditions imposed originally by a judge on Dec. 12 in New Haven, Connecticut, according to Christina Sterling, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins. While on release, Clayton must not violate any laws, if authorized must cooperate in the collection of any DNA samples, must let the court know of any residence or phone number change, if ordered must sign an appearance bond and must appear in court as required and, if convicted, must surrender as directed to serve a sentence that the court may impose.

There are fines and prison time associated with the charges if the men are convicted.

Conviction of armed bank robbery carries a penalty of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, according to the Justice Department. The charge of being an accessory after the fact provides for a sentence of up to 150 months in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations, according to the Justice Department. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

On Nov. 17, at around 8:15 a.m., the Rockland Trust bank in Vineyard Haven was robbed at gunpoint by three people. According to police, robbers wearing dark clothing and masks that looked like an older man with exaggerated facial features entered through the back of the bank and held semi-automatic weapons. They forced a teller to open a vault at gunpoint, stealing $39,100. They also tied up employees with plastic ties and duct tape. They stole a vehicle from a teller, later driving it to Manuel F. Correllus State Forest next to Martha’s Vineyard Airport where they abandoned it around 8:30 a.m.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Rockland Trust bank robbery on Vineyard: 3 indicted in federal court