Man Charged, Accused Of Armed Bank Robbery Near Brookline

ALLSTON, MA — A man in state custody was charged in connection with robbing a bank near the border with Brookline last month, flashing a gun and making a bank customer walk with him for a block outside the bank, the US attorney's office said Friday.

Authorities said Jermaine Howell, 35, of Everett, went into the TD Bank on Commonwealth Avenue and Harvard Street in Packard's Corner not far from the border with Brookline on Feb. 7 and gave a note and a plastic bag to the teller, demanding money.

Howell threatened the teller and two bank customers and flashed a gun, they said.

After taking his plastic bag – containing about $5,900 – from the teller, Howell instructed one of the customers to come with him and led the customer out of the bank. After walking about a block with Howell, the customer managed to get away while he was distracted, prosecutors said.

Later that week, someone reported to police that Howell had brandished a firearm at a guest at a hotel in Sharon.

Police said officers arrested Howell Feb. 16 on state charges and found him armed with a loaded .45 caliber Ruger handgun. Police also found a loaded semi-automatic shotgun in a vehicle that had previously been rented to Howell.

Authorities charged Howell by criminal complaint with bank robbery and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Howell made an initial appearance Thursday in court.

If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 for the charge of bank robbery, alone.