By A 22-year-old Connecticut man pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court to his role in a brazen bank robbery on Martha’s Vineyard, a case that shocked the typically tranquil island community in November 2022.
Romane Andre Clayton of New Haven entered a guilty plea to one count of aiding and abetting bank robbery before U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young in Boston. Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2024.
The robbery, which netted approximately $39,100, involved a carefully orchestrated plan executed by Clayton and three accomplices: Omar Johnson, Tevin Porter, and Miquel Jones. Court documents reveal that the group met on Martha’s Vineyard on November 16, 2022, to plan the heist.
According to prosecutors, Jones identified the target — Rockland Trust Bank in Tisbury — and provided the team with dark clothing and distinctive plastic masks resembling an elderly man with exaggerated facial features.
On the morning of November 17, Clayton played a crucial role as the lookout, positioning himself outside the bank with a walkie-talkie to communicate with his accomplices inside. Meanwhile, Porter, Jones, and Johnson, armed with two semi-automatic handguns, forced their way into the bank as employees arrived to open for the day.
The robbers held a gun to an employee’s head, forcing them to open the vault. They then bound the bank employees with duct tape and plastic zip ties while searching their belongings and demanding access to a vehicle for their escape.
After the robbery, the group fled in an employee’s car to the Manuel Correllus State Forest, where they switched to a vehicle Clayton had left for their escape. Clayton and Porter left the island by ferry later that morning, while Johnson and Jones disposed of evidence, including burying the firearms and burning the masks at a local farm.
All four men were eventually apprehended. Jones, Johnson, and Porter have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and FBI Boston Division Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen announced the guilty plea, emphasizing the collaborative effort of multiple law enforcement agencies in solving the case.
“This guilty plea brings us one step closer to justice for the victims of this terrifying robbery,” Levy stated. “It demonstrates our commitment to holding accountable those who threaten the safety of our communities, even in places we might consider unlikely targets for such brazen crimes.”
Clayton faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The final sentence will be determined based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan C. Cleary, highlights the extensive cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including police departments from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
As Martha’s Vineyard continues to recover from the shock of the robbery, this guilty plea serves as a reminder of the reach of federal law enforcement and the consequences of participating in interstate criminal activities.
