Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty To New Hampshire Bank Robbery

A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty Thursday to a 2018 bank robbery that took place in Hampton, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Philip Leo Campanirio, 54, of Westport, Massachusetts, made the plea in federal court on Thursday, per an announcement from United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.

The release said Campanirio entered a branch of Provident Bank in Hampton on April 17, 2018 and asked for $8,000, according to court documents and statements made in court.

Campanirio allegedly told the teller to "stay calm and no one gets hurt" and not to "make any sudden movements," according to the release, which added that Campanirio then placed his hands in his pockets which alerted the teller that Campanirio may have possessed a gun.

The release said the teller gave Campanirio some amount of money. Campanirio then allegedly fled the scene.

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According to the release, the robbery was recorded by the bank's video security system and Hampton police later located the baseball cap and hooded sweatshirt allegedly worn by Campanirio during the robbery. A forensics lab confirmed Campanirio’s DNA was found on the sweatshirt, the release said.

Campanirio's sentencing will take place on May 10, 2021.

“I am grateful to the Hampton Police Department and the FBI for their work in bringing this defendant to justice,” U.S. Attorney Murray said in the release. “Bank robberies can cause great distress to victims and subject everyone involved to potential physical harm. These crimes directly undermine public safety. Would-be bank robbers should expect to be arrested and brought before the U.S District Court to face judgment.”

Added Joseph R. Bonavolonta, a special agent in charge with the FBI Boston Division: “Any time an individual threatens a gun inside a financial institution with the intent to rob it, victims are traumatized and there is a potential for tragic consequences. As a result of today's guilty plea, Paul Campanirio faces significant prison time, thanks to the combined efforts of our local and federal law enforcement partners."

The incident was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Hampton Police Department, per the release. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen Fitzgibbons.

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