At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. The Monitor Daily amplifies and clarifies how we deliver on the Monitors purpose, to benefit humanity by reporting what is happening in the world and why and how this information matters to you. William Sequeira was arrested after fleeing the scene of a robbery and crashing his car. Brick houses and old-fashioned gaslights line Charlestowns narrow colonial streets, and ordinary folks bustle about the Dunkin Donuts, and the CVS drugstore. [13], Filming began in late August 2009 in Boston. BOSTON - An infamous criminal, who claims he's robbed more than 100 banks, was arrested in an attempted heist in the Back Bay. The hour-long chase drew state police and officers from Johnston, Coventry and Hopkinton, R.I., as it proceeded onto Routes 295 and 95. King in turn showed it to Warner Bros. studio, who agreed to make an adaptation directed by Lyne and written by Sheldon Turner. But after his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on charges of robbing three Boston banks over the last week, it might be some time before he ever gets his freedom back. Accused bank robbery suspect who says Ben Affleck played him in The Town, appears in court. While Affleck had grown up in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, he barely knew the harsh inner-city environment of Charlestown. [citation needed], The film took #1 at the box office during its opening weekend, taking in $23.8 million. [11] Later the film's actors also researched within the community to make for more believable characters and performances. [19][3], The film was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on December 17, 2010. William Sequeira CBS Boston Sequeira appeared in Boston Municipal Court Thursday and was held on $50,000 bail for bank robbery charges. Along with Aaron Stockard, who he invited to work with him on the scripts, Affleck interviewed several locals of the Charlestown community. 2023 Cox Media Group. [18] The Town grossed $92.1 million in the United States and Canada with an additional $61.8 million in other territories for a total of $154 million worldwide on a production budget of $37 million. The film premiered on September 8, 2010, at the Venice Film Festival before being released in the United States on September 17, 2010. At Fenway, Doug and Jem enter disguised as Boston police officers, steal $3,500,000 in gate cash, and prepare to escape in an ambulance while disguised as paramedics. BOSTON At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. First published on October 5, 2022 / 11:09 PM. Sequeira is a serial bank robber who served decades in prison. The Town, a crime-thriller film released in 2010, was directed by Ben Affleck, who also starred as the main antagonist, Doug Macray. You notice were still here., Bob Fitzpatrick, a retired townie who says he was paid $107 to be an extra in The Town, says he grew up in a family of 14 kids. Philip Lafond was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, the getaway car. He was taken into custody moments later. Caprio seemed intrigued by his story. Angered, Jem fights him and says that he is in too deep to walk away. He still cares about us, Looney says. But as depicted in the movie, the task force had recently busted a gang which was very similar to the movies AK-47-wielding crew. William Sequeira, 59, has previously claimed that Ben Affleck's character in "The Town" is based on him. Watch the movie. So many viewers must be wondering if bank robbery actually became a family trade in Charlestown? Your subscription to At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. Federal officials last March also charged Donald Lafond in connection with bank robberies in Boston. When Frawley learns Claire quit her job, he taps her phone, shows his file on Doug to her, and threatens to prosecute her as an accomplice. contact customer service In the last week, William Sequeira drew the heat big time, allegedly robbing a series of banks in Fall River and Boston. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to a press release from the office of United States. A Fall River man with a history of attempted bank robbery was charged in connection with a September incident at a TD Bank branch in Boston. subscription. There, it is alleged that Sequeira approached the teller, said Give me hundreds, and then threatened to shoot the teller if they did not move fast enough. [citation needed], The Town was shown at the Venice Film Festival and premiered at Boston's Fenway Park. Do celebrities in Africa make you cringe? "The bottom line is, the statistics speak for themselves, Mr. Comcowich says. FBI Special Agent Adam Frawley recognizes their ties to local Irish mobster Fergus "Fergie" Colm. "[31] Writing in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Laremy Lengel titled his review "The Town Works Best if You Avoid the Heat," also referencing Mann's film. https://www.caughtinprovidence.com/ [20], On March 6, 2011, the three-disc The Town: Ultimate Collector's Edition DVD/Blu-ray set was released. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery.. William Sequeira, 59, has served long sentences for bank robbery.. FILEA man who claims he's robbed at least 100 banks and that Ben Affleck's character in"The Town" was based on him was held without bail Thursday on charges of robbing two Boston banks and attempting to rob a third, prosecutors said. The movie is actually a loose adaptation of Chuck Hogans novel Prince of Thieves. Townies, those born and raised here, dont take kindly to being portrayed in Mr. Afflecks film as a bunch of dumb bums" (to use the words of one resident). Doug flees by donning an MBTA uniform and escaping on a train. School security lapses exposed:This Freetown mom tried to expose school security failures. The next day, prosecutors say, officers were called to the M&T Bank on Boylston Street around 3:55 p.m. and demanded money, saying Im going to put a gun to your head if you dont give me $100 bills. He left with $388. [8][9] In 2006, director Adrian Lyne brought the novel to producer Graham King. A judge set bail at $50,000.00 and Sequeira was sent back to jail where, its likely no one will confuse him with Ben Affleck. And because of the depth of its characters and the stellar performances of its cast, its hard not to wonder if it is actually based on the lives of real people. One of them pointed a handgun at bank employees and told them to get down on the floor while the other jumped over the counter and took money from the teller drawers. Although we dont have the exact figures for Charlestowns crime rate in the 90s, statistics suggest that there was indeed a surge in the rate of robberies in Massachusetts in the 80s and 90s, which substantially dropped in the mid-aughts. [9][12] Affleck wanted to direct a movie "I personally researched and understood", and invited high school classmate Aaron Stockard to work with him on the script. Search in titles only Search in THE MEDICAL MEN AND DOCTOR REPORTS only 2023 www.heraldnews.com. Boston 25 News facebook feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News twitter feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News youtube feed(Opens a new window), School administrators: Create a closings account, Caught in the act: Accused bank robber who says Ben Affleck played him busted during heist spree, Deepest condolences: Boston Childrens Hospital pays $15M to family of baby who died during study, Hopkintons former deputy police chief indicted on child rape charges, Hingham Police officer accused of brandishing gun while off duty on Stoneham roadway, 12-year-old girl suffers cardiac episode during soccer practice, 4 men from Mass., NH arrested in Lawrence-based drug trafficking ring, federal authorities say. Bostons historic Freedom Trail ends in Charlestown, home to the Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). The paper reported there is some sense of rivalry between Townies, people who lived in the historically Irish-Catholic neighborhood for decades, and "Toonies", largely white-collar workers who arrived with gentrification, but most of that has died down. June 30, 2020 'The Town' is a scintillating crime drama that grips from its very onset and keeps you hooked till the end. But in recent decades, Charlestown has changed, says Looney. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. EAST PROVIDENCE Bill Black, Principal, Shane Messier, Assistant Principal, Lian Furtado, Assistant Principal, Bob Hanlon, CTC Director, and the amazing staff of East Providence High School, announce the Honor Roll for the 2022-2023 Third Quarter. [29] The film also takes influence from Boston bank robbery film The Friends of Eddie Coyle; several scenes in The Town, including the release of the blindfolded hostage to walk to the water's edge, mirror sequences in this film. But residents beg to differ with the movies portrayal of the area. By continuing to browse the site Yet two years ago, he appeared on the popular "Caught in Providence" TV show and received a reprieve for several outstanding traffic tickets, largely because he expressed remorse for his bank robbing past and a desire to change his life. I guess the author of the book or the author of the movie might be able to shed more light on that, he adds. Police Oversight Committee Eyes Next Steps, Marty the Mini Pony is Looking for a Good Retirement Home, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, Ex-Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief Charged With Child Rape, Defense Team's Claim in Case of Officer's Death Stirs Controversy in Canton, 2 Teens Charged in Unprovoked' Attack on Woman at South Boston MBTA Station, Tens of Thousands of New Englanders Wake Up Monday to No Power, Aerosmith Announces Farewell Tour, Including New Year's Eve Show in Boston. You can renew your subscription or According to the charging documents, Sequeira entered the TD Bank branch on Union Street in Boston Sept. 30. All rights reserved. [34][36] The film makes reference to the definition of "Toonies" during one of Doug and Claire's dates. I-Team: Serial bank robber arrested for attempted heist in Back Bay. Charlestown hopes not", "Author Hogan talks about his kind of Town", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Town_(2010_film)&oldid=1151377935, Ben Affleck, Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard, This page was last edited on 23 April 2023, at 17:30. Is it even true that this wedge-shaped, one-square-mile neighborhood claims title to the bank robbery capital of America? [4][5] It also stars Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper and Slaine, and follows a Boston bank robber who begins to develop romantic feelings for a victim of one of his previous robberies, while he and his crew set out to get one final score by robbing Fenway Park. Now William shares his story after his Caught in Providence case went viral.-----. [37], Massachusetts Correctional Institution Cedar Junction, Learn how and when to remove this template message, DallasFort Worth Film Critics Association, St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association, "Blake Lively Goes to 'Town' for Ben Affleck", "Blake Lively going to 'Town' for WB, Legendary", "10 Actors Who Deserved an Oscar Nomination", "Lyne recruited to mastermind WB's 'Thieves", "Anatomy of a Contender: Making of 'The Town', "Ben Affleck, Blake Lively are the talk of 'The Town', "Blake Gets a Baby Welcome to Ben's Town", "Melrose: 'Lights, cameras, action' in city as Ben Affleck movie shoots locally this month", "Movie projector: 'Easy A' expected to lead 'The Town,' 'Devil,' 'Alpha and Omega', "The Town - Ultimate Collector's Edition (Blu-ray)", "Bunker Hill to Fenway: A Crook's Freedom Trail", "Review: The Town Works Best if You Avoid the Heat", "Robbed of its new image? But he also said he was trying to turn his life around, making deliveries for a produce company, and said he didn't ever want to end up in prison again. He allegedly approached a teller and stated, give me all the hundreds in the drawer, and give me all the money before I blow your brains out. He then fled on foot. Sequeira was arrested Wednesday afternoon, allegedly caught in the act of robbing the Citizens Bank branch at Berkeley and Boylston Streets in Boston. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Police had that location under surveillance and were able to arrest Sequeira after he allegedly went from one teller to the next, demanding "give me hundreds.". He also talks about how he almost became a professional ice hockey player before he threw it away to follow in his father's footsteps as a bank robber. William Sequeira, 59, was. We outnumber the bad guys.. Claire donates the money, in memory of Doug's mother, to refurbish the local ice hockey arena in which Doug once played. The chase ended on the side of Route 95 south, where police arrested Philip Lafond. "[28] Justin Chang wrote in Variety that the action scenes strike "an ideal balance between kineticism and clarity" aided by cinematographer Robert Elswit and film editor Dylan Tichenor. This Freetown mom tried to expose school security failures. The film was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2010, while Renner was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor[6] and Postlethwaite was posthumously nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.[7]. Now William shares his story after his Caught in Providence case went viral.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\rThese are real people, not actors. If you have questions about your account, please A Providence man who claims he's robbed at least 100 banks and that Ben Affleck's character in "The Town" was based on him was held without bail Thursday on charges of robbing two Boston banks and attempting to rob a third, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said. Sequeira was immediately apprehended. A lawyer said Sequeira is currently unemployed due to COVID. In a new complaint, filed this week in U.S. District Court, Providence, Whitehouse charged the men with armed bank robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. In the early 1990s, an increase in the number of bank and armored car robberies by Townies focused attention on Charlestown. Mr. Peletier has a lot of company. The film was released in the United States on September 17, 2010. Both versions include special features and an audio commentary including a look at Affleck as a director and actor. View the profiles of people named William Sequeira. Its sad, Peletier says. William Sequeira, 59, of Fall River, allegedly robbed four separate banks in Massachusetts within a five-day period and attempted . William Sequeira claims to have robbed 150 banks and inspired the character Ben Affleck portrayed in the heist movie, "The Town." But when he walked into the Citizens Bank in the Back Bay . In 2003, Paramount Pictures had optioned the rights to Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves before it was even published, and Dick Wolf signed on to produce before the project fell through. In its opening shot itself, the film establishes that it is set in Bostons Charlestown. He allegedly approached the teller, said Give me hundreds, and then threatened to shoot the teller if they did not move fast enough.