Three men face federal indictment charges following an armed robbery of a cash courier in Swansea, Massachusetts, a case that has seen a mix of old-school crime and high tech evidence gathering. The US Attorney’s Office announced the indictments of Steven Madison, Christopher White, and Quentin McDonald after a cash-laden courier working for a cannabis business was robbed in February. According to a statement from the Justice Department, the courier was carrying approximately $436,200 at the time of the incident.
The trio's criminal charges include robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery under the Hobbs Act, arson of an a vehicle used in interstate commerce, and conspiracy. Madison and White have additional charges for brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Each could face significant prison time, with the Hobbs Act robbery alone carrying a sentence of up to 20 years.
Evidence in the case includes surveillance video showing the men allegedly stealing a rental van, used later in the robbery. The footage captured a masked individual confronting the courier and another loading the money into the van. The victim, although bound and pepper-sprayed, managed to fire shots at the fleeing robbers, a detail highlighted in the charging documents. The ensuing investigation led to searches of the suspects' homes, where authorities recovered firearms, ammunition, cocaine, and items used in the robbery.
Additional charges stem from the suspects' histories, with both Madison and McDonald having prior convictions for masked armed robbery and other serious offenses. White has a record of larceny and receiving stolen property. Across the provided details, the defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Acting US Attorney Joshua S. Levy and law enforcement officials, including ATF and local police departments, credited the collaborative work in bringing the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John J. Reynolds III and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Driscoll are prosecuting the case.
