Manchester Man Indicted On Federal Armed Robbery Charges

CONCORD, NH — A Manchester man has been indicted in connection with a string of armed robberies in Queen City last winter. Guillermo Garcia Esquivel, 36, is charged with committing six armed robberies at Manchester convenience stores between Jan. 5 and Feb. 24. He has been ordered detained after being indicted in federal court, U.S. Attorney Scott Murray announced Monday.

"I’m very pleased to finally be able to announce we have been working with the US Attorney’s Office regarding the rash of armed robberies in our city," said Manchester Police Chief Carlo Capano in a statement. "Manchester Patrol Officers and Detectives have worked diligently to investigate numerous robberies over several months. As an agency, it is frustrating to initially withhold information, but there is a risk of compromising an investigation. Our goal is to always put solid cases together that result in successful prosecutions. We will always do everything we possibly can to keep our community safe."

Manchester police worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in investigating the armed robberies. The case is part of ATF's Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a federally funded program that aims to reduce gun violence through aggressive law enforcement to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes. The program also provides funding for law enforcement training and public education.

A trial date for Garcia Esquivel has not yet been scheduled. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt; it merely is a determination that there is enough evidence in the case to warrant a trial.