A Berwick man who used guns and threats to hold up banks in New Hampshire and Maine last year as part of a four-person crew was sentenced Monday to 22 years in federal prison.
Philip G. Gage, 47, was accused of having a role in all the robberies carried out by the ring from Aug. 21 to Oct. 26. The robbers hit Citizens Bank in Somersworth, N.H.; People’s United Bank in Exeter, N.H.; Kennebunk Savings in Eliot; and Ocean Communities Federal Credit Union in Sanford.
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Gage was the last of the four robbers to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland, though it was his capture on Oct. 31 that led to the arrests of his three accomplices, according to court records. Gage was the only one accused of participating in all the robberies.
Gage pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby on March 4 to four counts of armed bank robbery, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.
Hornby also sentenced Gage to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison term and to pay $20,054 in restitution.
After Gage’s arrest, he gave authorities the names of his accomplices: Daniel Barry, Marvin Eugene Ansteth Jr. and Brianne Mone, all of New Hampshire.
Barry supplied the guns that Gage used in both Maine robberies, a .44-caliber revolver that was used in Eliot and a .22-caliber revolver that was used in Sanford. Both guns were found in a search of Barry’s home.
Barry also assisted Gage inside the bank during the robbery in Eliot. Ansteth and Mone each served as getaway drivers for more than one robbery.
“Gage remained in the lobby of Kennebunk Savings during the robbery and pointed the revolver at Kennebunk Savings employees,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Clark in a court document filed last year. “Barry vaulted over the teller counter and took $7,896 in United States currency from the teller drawers, placing them in a green colored gym bag.”
Gage is accused of pointing the gun at a teller in the robbery in Sanford and escaping with $8,574, according to court records.
During the Citizens Bank robbery, Gage passed a note saying: “I have a bomb and a gun if you say a word you will die.” He escaped with $3,132.80, according to court records.
In the People’s United Bank robbery, Gage passed a note saying: “There’s a bomb in the trash can, keep it quiet.” He stole $1,451, records show.
Gage’s prior felony convictions include a robbery in Florida in 1986, an assault in Maine in 1999, possession of a firearm by a felon in Maine in 1999, and attempting to commit a Class B crime in Maine in 2002, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Barry was sentenced April 2 to 63 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Mone was also sentenced April 2 to 45 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Ansteth was sentenced on May 22 to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Each of them was ordered to pay a share of the restitution.
Scott Dolan can be reached at 791-6304 or at:
Twitter: @scottddolan
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