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Robert Abel, 54, of St. Augustine, Florida, was charged with one count of bank robbery, according to Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the district of Connecticut. Daly announced the indictment on Thursday, though it was actually returned on April 19.
The charge stems from an incident on Feb. 17, where Able is accused of robbing the Webster Bank on Barnum Avenue in Stratford. Police said that Abel also tried to rob a nearby Walgreens as well. He was arrested after police said he crashed a stolen car in Milford.
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Abel has been in custody since February, when he was charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, fourth-degree larceny and attempted robbery, which are all state charges. The bank robbery charge that was handed down in April is a federal charge.
Abel appeared before a judge in Hartford on Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to the federal charge. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
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