United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

STAMFORD RESIDENT INDICTED FOR THREATENING TO SHOOT BANK EMPLOYEES

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned a one count Indictment charging STEPHEN MONTALVO, 60, of Stamford, with threatening to kill and injure the employees and managers of an HSBC Bank branch located at 101 Broad Street in Stamford.  The Indictment was returned yesterday, October 15.

As stated in documents previously filed by the government in this matter, on September 30, 2008, an employee of the HSBC Bank branch received a telephoned voice mail message from MONTALVO, in which MONTALVO threatened to take a gun into the HSBC Bank and do whatever he had to do to get his money.  This witness knew from prior encounters with MONTALVO that MONTALVO was angry with HSBC after having lost money on certain investments.  Earlier that same day, the witness had been approached by MONTALVO, who stated that he intended to bomb the HSBC Bank branch in Stamford.

If convicted of the charge, MONTALVO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and fine of up to $250,000.

MONTALVO currently is detained in federal custody.

Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Stamford Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Henry K. Kopel.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov