Around New England

Martha’s Vineyard Man Sentenced For Bank Robbery

Martha’s Vineyard Man Sentenced For Bank Robbery

Tom Joyce

An Edgartown man was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing a bank in Falmouth last spring.

Petar Petyoshin, 40, zip-tied both bank employees and customers, brandished a firearm, and placed a fake bomb on the counter before making a getaway in a bank customer's vehicle, according to federal prosecutors. He wore a coronavirus-era mask during the robbery, according to a photo obtained by NewBostonPost. Also, the man is a Bulgarian immigrant, according to TB Daily News.

U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley sentenced the Petyoshin to 102 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

The sentence comes after Petyoshin's guilty plea to one count of armed bank robbery in October 2023, according to a press release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

On April 8, 2023, Petyoshin traveled from Martha's Vineyard to Falmouth via a Steamship Authority ferry.

At around 8:58 a.m., he entered the Rockland Trust Bank and committed the robbery. He coerced two tellers into putting more than $20,000 in cash into a brown bag. The robber also stole a customer's car keys and fled using the vehicle. He then returned to Martha's Vineyard in the early afternoon via the ferry.

On May 23, 2023, Petyoshin was arrested for his heist. A search of his home in Edgartown found evidence that he committed the crime, including thousands of dollars in cash bundled with Rockland Trust money bands, zip ties, and clothing that matched that of the robber on the surveillance footage, according to prosecutors.

After the bank robbery (and before the arrest), Petyoshin made a cash down payment on a lease for a new Mercedes-Benz, according to the press release.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected In Massachusetts
Around New England

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected In Massachusetts

Tom Joyce

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' Division of Animal Health announced via a press release this week the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Essex County.

The state agency said it took necessary action to depopulate and dispose of a non-commercial, mixed-species backyard flock of non-poultry birds in Essex County due to the virus. The birds on the premises died suddenly without displaying any other clinical signs indicative of of the virus, the agency said. However, testing on the dead birds confirmed the presence of the disease.

"MDAR advises backyard and commercial poultry owners to practice strong biosecurity measures to prevent domestic poultry from having contact with wild birds, their feathers, and droppings," the press release said. "The HPAI virus is continuing to circulate in the wild bird population, particularly in wild waterfowl. Eliminating standing water and preventing domestic birds from having access to ponds, streams, and wetland areas that attract wild waterfowl is of critical importance."

Additionally, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (also known as MassWildlife) recently got reports that wild Canada geese in Essex County displayed symptoms consistent with the virus.

"While humans are rarely infected with avian influenza viruses, humans that have prolonged close contact with sick or dead birds infected with HPAI are at the most risk of becoming infected," the press release said. "Officials are urging the public not to handle or feed any birds suspected of being infected. Pet owners should also prevent their dogs from making contact with wild birds."

 

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