Darien Bank Robberies
Bank Robber Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Various Robberies, Including One in Darien
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Back in April of 2014, George Bratensis, then about 65 years old, dropped off Bomani Africa in Darien. Africa entered the People’s United Bank branch on Old Kings Highway North, “pulled out a gun, jumped over the teller counter and ordered a teller to open drawers, saying ‘I will shoot you if you don’t give me all your money!'”
That’s how the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Connecticut described the robbery in a news release announcing that Bratensis was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison for that robbery and a string of others. Bratensis is now 73. Eight years from now, he’ll be 81. Perhaps Africa’s threat to shoot the bank teller was serious: In addition to pleading guilty to one count of robbery in Connecticut, Bratensis and Africa have each pleaded guilty to committing a contract killing of a person in New Jersey.