Fourth Suspect Arrested in Martha's Vineyard Bank Robbery as Prosecutors Add Charges Against Others

Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that a fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with an armed bank robbery on Martha's Vineyard, and that additional charges have been brought against others already accused in the case. U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins made the announcement.

Tevin Porter, 27, of Bridgeport, Conn., is alleged to have been the fourth participant in the holdup. He faces the same charges as Miquel Antonio Jones, 31, of Edgartown, according to prosecutors.

A superseding indictment has also been filed against Jones and Romane Andre Clayton, 21, of Jamaica. Jones is now charged with conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, armed bank robbery, and aiding and abetting. Clayton faces one count of bank robbery and one count of aiding and abetting. Both men were first arrested and charged last December, then indicted on March 16 together with alleged co-conspirator Omar Johnson, 32, of Canterbury, N.H.

According to prosecutors, the robbery took place on the morning of Nov. 17 at the Rockland Trust Bank in Tisbury. Porter, Jones and Johnson allegedly forced their way in through the back door wearing dark clothing and masks that resembled an elderly man with exaggerated facial features. They were each said to be carrying a semi-automatic handgun.

Inside, one of the men allegedly held a gun to an employee's head and made the person open a vault, and about $39,100 was taken. Prosecutors said bank employees were bound with duct tape and plastic zip ties while the armed men went through their belongings and demanded access to one of their vehicles.

The three then allegedly fled in an employee's car to the Manuel Correllus State Forest, where they left it in a parking lot and switched to another vehicle. Prosecutors say that second vehicle had been placed there beforehand to enable their escape.

Later that morning, Porter and Clayton allegedly left the island together by ferry. Prosecutors say Johnson and Jones drove to a local farm with the equipment used in the robbery. The two guns were found buried in a hole there, and the remaining items, including the masks, were found burned nearby. Jones allegedly went home and hid the cash in his bedroom under a bureau, while Johnson is accused of leaving the island and meeting Porter and Clayton in Woods Hole before the three drove to Johnson's home in New Hampshire.

Joseph R. Bonavolonta, the FBI Boston Division's Special Agent in Charge, said the arrest of the fourth alleged crew member came on Thursday. He said the robbery "terrorized innocent bank tellers and bystanders just trying to go about their daily lives," and called it "incredibly fortunate no one was hurt." He added that bank robbery "is not an easy payday" but a federal crime.

Rollins said the defendants "terrorized and spread panic across the communities of Martha's Vineyard." She said authorities believe the men worked together in a robbery involving at least two deadly semi-automatic firearms, one of them held to an employee's head, and went to great lengths to conceal their involvement. "We will hold violent individuals accountable, particularly when they use firearms during their crimes," she said.