Newton Man Sentenced to up to 20 Years in Prison for Robbing Banks

A Newton man known as the South Side Bandit plead guilty to robbing five banks in Newton and Wellesley in 2010 and faces 18 to 20 years in state prison, according to Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Wilfredo Alarcon, 45, of Newton, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court to charges of masked armed robbery (five counts), assault with a dangerous weapon (five counts), stealing by placing in fear (five counts), and attempted masked armed robbery. Superior Court Judge Kathe M. Tuttman sentenced Alarcon to 18 to 20 years in state prison with five years of probation to serve upon his release, according to a release from the AG's office.

“This defendant robbed five different banks and employed fear and threats of violence to do so, while carrying what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon,” AG Coakley said. “He will now serve a considerable amount of time in state prison for these crimes.”

Alarcon entered banks with a black mask over his face and carried what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon. The weapon turned out to be an air pistol, according to the AG's office.

Over the period of five months in 2010, Alarcon robbed five banks in Newton and Wellesley: Jan. 25 at Eastern Bank in Newton, Feb. 25 at Bank of America in Newton, on April 2 at Century Bank in Newton, the Village Bank in Newton on April 24, and TD Bank in Wellesley on May 1. He stole approximately $51,000 in total.