Is The Town Based on a True Story? - The Cinemaholic All rights reserved. (CNN/WBZ-TV) A Providence man accused of trying to rob a bank in Boston has been charged in another bank robbery in. They suspect Sequeira might return to Boylston Street where two banks were hit in the last few days. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. [11] Later the film's actors also researched within the community to make for more believable characters and performances. Instead of coming off as a regular heist movie, the film compromises on the efficiency of its heists, and instead, focuses more on its characters and its well-established Charlestown setup. 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. It is alleged that surveillance footage of the robbery and subsequent interviews positively identified Sequeira as the robber. Accused bank robbery suspect who says Ben Affleck played him in 'The William Sequeira said in 2020 to Providence Judge Frank Caprio on his web series "Caught in Providence" that Ben Affleck's character was based on him. In some cases, he demanded money and threatened to shoot bank tellers. Fall River man who claims he inspired 'The Town' charged in Boston bank According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Later, while she is gardening, Claire finds a buried bag containing money, a tangerine, and a note from Doug that suggests that she can make better use of the money than he can and that they might see each other again. FBI found over $500,000 . There was already a detective on the scene to intervene and placed Mr. Sequeira under arrest. The robbery attempt. In a stroll of Charlestown on a sunny day, its hard to believe this tiny Boston neighborhood could be the bank robbery capital of America the Warner Bros. hype about Ben Afflecks new film The Town, which opens Friday. We want to bridge divides to reach everyone. Its likely he may be charged with a fourth, as well as a recent bank robbery in Fall River. Fall River Bank Robber Caught Allegedly Trying to Rob a Bank The scenes in this flower shop, labeled as 'Town Flowers' in the movie, were filmed in an actual shop known as Thornton Flower Shop, 111 Dorchester Street. Out of curiosity.. First published on October 5, 2022 / 11:09 PM. Fall River man who claims he inspired 'The Town' charged in Boston bank William Sequeira CBS Boston Sequeira appeared in Boston Municipal Court Thursday and was held on $50,000 bail for bank robbery charges. William Sequeira, 59, faces one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, with the former charged carrying up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and. Accused bank robbery suspect who says Ben Affleck played him in 'The 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. Immediately preceding each screening, a vice president from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment thanked all those in attendance, including Titus Welliver (Dino Ciampa), Dennis McLaughlin (Rusty), and Affleck's mother, for coming out and supporting director Affleck's "preferred" version of the film, leading to a short, prerecorded introduction by Affleck himself. contact customer service 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.". But in recent decades, Charlestown has changed, says Looney. On Oct. 5, law enforcement surveilling the Back Bay area in an effort to locate Sequeira spotted him entering a Citizens Bank branch on Boylston Street in Boston. Fergie then threatens to kill Claire if Doug does not do the job, and he reveals to him that he controlled his father by making his mother an addict, which led to her suicide. William Sequeira, 59, of Providence, Rhode Island, was arraigned Thursday in Boston Municipal Court on a charge of attempted unarmed bank robbery, according to the Boston Police Department. Frawley notes that this incident led to the passing of regulations prohibiting the driver from leaving the cab even if his partner is being held at gunpoint. Convicted bank robber William Sequeira indicted in more robberies You can renew your subscription or Fall River man who says he inspired Ben Affleck heist movie charged 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. At separate points during the chase, Sequeira pointed a pistol at a pursuing officer and the men threw a large quantity of money, marked with red dye from an exploding dye pack, from the car. But youll find in each Monitor news story qualities that can lead to solutions and unite usqualities such as respect, resilience, hope, and fairness. 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. Thats me. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Ive got an apartment. Man Who Claims to be Inspiration for Ben Affleck's Character in 'The [13], Filming began in late August 2009 in Boston. FBI Special Agent Adam Frawley recognizes their ties to local Irish mobster Fergus "Fergie" Colm. On Oct. 4, Vertentes was able to alert law enforcement in Boston that Sequeira was en route to that city. Sequeira appeared on the local legal television show Caught in Providence two years ago, Boston25 reported. 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. ", Halfway home:Houston House helps residents get back on their feet. But instead of solely relying on the content of the novel for the movie, Ben Affleck, who is both the director and actor in the movie, did a lot of his own research to make the film look more realistic. Search in titles only Search in THE MEDICAL MEN AND DOCTOR REPORTS only 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. However, unlike the movie, this shop is actually located in South Boston, not Charlestown. 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. Hollywood will do anything that will sell tickets. So many viewers must be wondering if bank robbery actually became a family trade in Charlestown? Frawley deduces that Claire tipped him off, but her tip is too cryptic to provide grounds for an arrest. [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. Sequeira told him when he was caught, he had half a million dollars hidden in his fridge in milk containers. Plenty of people rob and steal in other communities, but they dont get the press bashing that Charlestown does, townies complain. In Boston Municipal Court, Sequeira briefly arged with his own lawyer as he was arguing for low bail. Behind the news are values that drive people and nations. 2023 Cox Media Group. Thanks to diligent investigative work he was apprehended before anyone got injured, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. Our work isn't possible without your support. Doug tells Claire of his search for his long-lost mother, who he believes went to live with his aunt in Tangerine, Florida. 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. The police officer stood behind Seqeira in line, and when he heard Sequeira making his demand, the officer took Sequeira down to the ground. Doug reluctantly agrees but swears that he will kill Fergie if anything happens to Claire. 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. The movie itself aspires to create a cinematic representation of Boston and in no way attempts to antagonize Charlestown or its people. 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. Please keep that in mind when you comment. 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. 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. Prosecutors revealed he's also suspected in a September. [25], Roger Ebert gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, praising Renner's performance and Affleck's direction. Fall River man who says he inspired Affleck movie charged in robbery While Affleck had grown up in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, he barely knew the harsh inner-city environment of Charlestown. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lovegreen ordered the men held pending further investigation. Convicted bank robber arrested again after several recent holdups New Bedford brothers sentenced for bank robberies Watch the movie. you are agreeing to our. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to United States Attorney Rachael Rollins. Rebecca Hall (l.) and Ben Affleck appear in 'The Town. 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. Check out why Ben Affleck gets it right in Congo. But after his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on charges of robbing three Boston banks over the last week,. On Wednesday, Sequeira was on the move again, traveling from his home in Providence to Boston, unaware that the Joint Violent Crime Task Force was already on his tail. Watching from across the street via binoculars, he sees the FBI are with her as she tells him to come over. 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. "[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. At first, he thinks she means to betray him, but she gives a clue verbally to warn him away. This set includes the previously released theatrical and extended cut Blu-ray disc as well as a second Blu-ray disc and a DVD which feature a new extended cut with an alternate, darker ending. Your honor, attorney Sam Cheng began, My client, because of covid, hes unemployed right now. Its sad, Peletier says. The extended/unrated version is a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy bundle which includes 28 minutes of additional footage, taking the runtime to over 153 minutes. The movie is actually a loose adaptation of Chuck Hogans novel Prince of Thieves. "The bottom line is, the statistics speak for themselves, Mr. Comcowich says. A deeper view that unites instead of divides, connecting why the story matters to you. Sequeira is a serial bank robber who served decades in prison. In a stroll of Charlestown on a sunny day, it's hard to believe this tiny Boston neighborhood could be "the bank robbery capital of America " - the Warner Bros. hype about Ben Affleck's . However, this film all but ignores the great majority of the residents of Charlestown, past and present, who are the same good and true people found most anywhere,"[35] to whom the film is dedicated. Where Was The Town Filmed? - The Cinemaholic Based on actual events, it received praise from critics for its direction, screenplay, editing, and the performances of the cast (particularly Renner) and grossed $154 million worldwide. He. [20], On March 6, 2011, the three-disc The Town: Ultimate Collector's Edition DVD/Blu-ray set was released. [22][additional citation(s) needed], On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Town has an approval rating of 92% based on 235 reviews, with an average rating of 7.70/10. 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. 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. He still cares about us, Looney says. Greg Comcowich, Boston Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesman, would not confirm the truth of the movies dramatic claim either. He will appear in. Sequeira was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon, the .357 Magnum. 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. The prosecution also said Sequeira is suspected in three more robberies in Boston, Dedham and New Bedford. Its about time Hollywood produced something nice about Charlestown, they said. EPHS names students to 2022-23 third quarter honor roll Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Federal officials last March also charged Donald Lafond in connection with bank robberies in Boston. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Doug knows that Jem will kill her if he knows so, to dissuade her from talking, Doug tells her that if she tells the police, they will put her in witness protection and send her to live in another state. "I'm going to put a gun to your head if you don't give me $100 bills" the M&T Bank robber said, according to prosecutors. 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. One month free trial to the Monitor Daily. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Is it even true that this wedge-shaped, one-square-mile neighborhood claims title to the bank robbery capital of America? Sequeira was immediately apprehended. 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. The film premiered on September 8, 2010, at the Venice Film Festival before being released in the United States on September 17, 2010. Most of these professionals live in a 1-square-mile neighborhood called Charlestown." 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 . Man claiming he inspired 'The Town' charged with robbing Boston banks In the early 1990s, an increase in the number of bank and armored car robberies by Townies focused attention on Charlestown. The film was released in the United States on September 17, 2010. Thats a pretty good conclusion, Comcowich says. They don't deserve negative scrutiny. Sequeira was arrested Wednesday afternoon, allegedly caught in the act of robbing the Citizens Bank branch at Berkeley and Boylston Streets in Boston. The actors remarks, Mr. Looney says, made it clear that the movie is in no way a poor reflection on the people of Charlestown. https://www.caughtinprovidence.com/ [34][36] The film makes reference to the definition of "Toonies" during one of Doug and Claire's dates. Investigators believe Sequeira was also the suspect responsible for the first two robberies. The Boston Police Department's Bank Robbery task force tackled William Sequeira inside the Citizens Bank on Boylston Street Wednesday afternoon, I-Team sources said. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Ben Affleck played this real-life bank robber in 'The Town'. Ever see the movie, The Town? Sequeira asked Judge Frank Caprio. 'The Town': Is Charlestown really America's 'bank robbery capital'? A lawyer said Sequeira is currently unemployed due to COVID. The couple cites a long history of involvement with Charlestown youths, through the Kiwanis Club, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Bunker Hill Day parade. An accused banker robber who claimed Ben Affleck played him in "The Town" has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges in connection with a spree of bank robberies in Massachusetts earlier this year. Right now, Sequeira is charged with three Boston bank robberies. Charlestown locals also joined the cast, mostly as extras. Science Monitor has expired. William Sequeira, 59, of Providence, was arrested on Wednesday during an attempted robbery of the Citizen's Bank located at 426 Boylston Street in the Back Bay, police said. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. In the last week, William Sequeira drew the heat big time, allegedly robbing a series of banks in Fall River and Boston. Video recorded the dramatic moment police took Sequeira into custody. At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. Providence stabbing:What we know after a Fall River man was killed outside the Cadillac Lounge. Doug asks Claire to go away with him, and she accepts. 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. "[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. [29] Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun Times gave the film an A+, noting that he found the film incredibly similar to Michael Mann's Heat, which he described as "one of [his] favorite movies of all time. Caught in a firefight with FBI SWAT operators, Dez and Gloansy are killed. BOSTON At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. On the show, he claims Ben Afflecks character in the movie The Town is based on him, and tells the judge that he has robbed more than one hundred banks. People can draw their own conclusions.. A judge ordered Sequeira to stay away from Boston and the banks involved. After finding out that Claire lives in their neighborhood, Doug follows her to find out how much she has told the police and to ensure that the hot-headed Jem does not eliminate her as a witness. William Sequeira, 34, of Boston, and two brothers, Philip Lafond, 33, of Acushnet, and Donald R. Lafond Jr., 37, of New Bedford, already face state charges in connection with the robbery, at gunpoint, of $6,100 from the First Bank & Trust Co. at 645 Reservoir Ave. Join Facebook to connect with William Sequeira and others you may know. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Boston police say they can't verify that: They don't track bank robberies nationwide, and they dont break out bank-robbery statistics from all robbery numbers for the city. Dr George William Sequeria - Jack The Ripper Forums - Ripperology For [citation needed], The film took #1 at the box office during its opening weekend, taking in $23.8 million. Fall River man who claims he inspired 'The Town' charged in Boston bank subscription. The Town (2010 film) - Wikipedia