What started as a late-night holdup at a Hinsdale convenience store has turned into a full-blown federal case for two Massachusetts men, after investigators say their getaway ended with a burning U-Haul across the state line. Authorities say 64-year-old Richard Conner of Worcester and 66-year-old James Ferguson of Greenfield were arrested on Friday and now face federal charges in connection with an armed robbery at the T-Bird Mini Mart on Brattleboro Road in Hinsdale. Investigators say the pair entered the store masked, threatened employees with a firearm and took off with merchandise, then fled in a stolen U-Haul box truck that was later found burning and abandoned in Orange, Massachusetts.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Hampshire, the robbery happened on March 15, at about 10:40 p.m. Federal prosecutors say some of the stolen merchandise tumbled out of the truck along the getaway route before the scorched U-Haul was discovered in Orange.
Local coverage at the time described the suspects loading items into the truck and heading south on Interstate 91 toward Brattleboro and across the border. As WMUR reported, witnesses and investigators later recovered some of the stolen goods along that path.
Federal charges and penalties
Conner and Ferguson have been charged by criminal complaint with interference with commerce by robbery, a violation of the federal Hobbs Act. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, according to prosecutors.
The U.S. Attorney's Office named Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Marin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles DeJoie as the prosecutors assigned to the case and noted that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the investigation. The U.S. Attorney's Office said the two defendants were arrested in Massachusetts without incident and will have their initial appearances in federal court at a later date.
Arrests and next steps
Local outlets reported the arrests on Friday. WCAX noted that each man could face up to 20 years behind bars if convicted on the Hobbs Act robbery charge alone.
Authorities have not yet announced bond decisions or specific court dates. Federal prosecutors say the case remains under active investigation and that more information will be released as it moves through the court system.
How the getaway unfolded
Investigators say the escape route turned messy when some of the stolen merchandise, including cigarettes, spilled out of the truck and was later found along the highway. According to WMUR, the U-Haul was last seen heading toward Brattleboro before eventually being located burning and abandoned in Orange, Massachusetts.
Federal authorities and local police continue to work the case. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court. Hinsdale police and federal officials have asked anyone with information related to the March robbery to contact investigators.
