Federal prosecutors say a 2019 bank robbery streak that had tellers on edge in Rhode Island and Massachusetts effectively came to a close this week, years after the alleged culprit was arrested at a casino. On June 10, 2026, 42-year-old Joseph Hickson pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence to charges tied to a series of “note” robberies that investigators say swept through the region in spring 2019, with a suspect quietly sliding tellers a written threat, claiming to have a weapon and demanding specific bills.
In court, Hickson admitted to robbing a TD Bank branch in Cranston on April 28, 2019, and a Washington Trust branch in East Providence on May 28, 2019. Investigators also linked him to a May 16, 2019 theft at the Digital Federal Credit Union in Franklin, Massachusetts, according to Fall River Reporter. He is scheduled to learn his federal sentence on Sept. 15, 2026, the outlet reports.
The robberies and arrest
Investigators say Hickson’s method was low-drama but high-stress for tellers. He allegedly passed notes that claimed he was armed and ordered staff to hand over cash, then walked out with an undisclosed amount before anyone could fully process what had happened.
The string of robberies came to an end on May 29, 2019, when Hickson was arrested while gambling at Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville. Massachusetts State Police and East Providence officers moved in and took him into custody without incident, according to CBS Boston.
How investigators tied him to the crimes
After the arrest, investigators executed search warrants on Hickson’s car and his home in Walpole. They say the searches turned up evidence that linked him to the bank jobs, tightening the case across state lines. Hickson later pleaded guilty to state charges in Massachusetts before federal prosecutors moved ahead with the Rhode Island counts.
The investigation pulled in multiple agencies, including the FBI along with police in Cranston, East Providence and Franklin, Massachusetts, according to Patch.
Prosecution and next steps
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron is handling the federal prosecution. Hickson’s ultimate sentence will be set by the court, which must weigh the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors, according to Fall River Reporter. The plea effectively closes the federal chapter of a case that started with a casino floor arrest in 2019.
Legal note
Under federal law, a basic bank robbery conviction can carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, with higher maximums if a dangerous weapon is used or someone is injured. For more detail, see 18 U.S.C. § 2113 at Cornell Law and the Department of Justice’s overview of federal bank robbery statutes.
