BOSTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Massachusetts), published as received.

BOSTON – A Salem, New Hampshire man pleaded guilty today to committing six armed bank robberies in the Merrimack Valley area in 2013.

Rafael Beamud, Jr., 34, pleaded guilty today to six counts of armed robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of his crimes.  U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for June 18, 2015. 

On Feb. 21, 2013, Beamud walked into a TD Bank in Methuen.  He approached a teller, brandishing a firearm, and ordered the teller to empty the cash drawers, making sure there was no “dye pack” put into plastic bags that he provided.  Beamud threatened to shoot if an alarm was tripped.  The teller placed the money from the drawers into one of the plastic bags and Beamud left the bank, leaving one of the plastic bags behind.  The bag was processed for fingerprints which led to Beamud’s identification.  He was arrested in April 2013 whereupon he confessed to committing a total of 16 armed robberies across three New England states, including 13 in Massachusetts.

The charge of armed robbery provides a sentence of no greater than 25 years in prison, five years supervised release, and $250,000 fine on each count.  The charge of brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence provides for a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison with no greater than a lifetime in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today.  Assistance was also provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Salem, N.H., North Andover, Dracut, and Methuen Police Departments; and the Massachusetts State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eve A. Piemonte of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.