MANCHESTER, NH — James Whinnem, 34, formerly of Manchester, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Landya B. McCafferty in Concord to three charges — one count of robbery affecting interstate commerce; and two counts of bank robbery.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Whinnem robbed a gas station convenience store at knife point in Manchester November 16, 2014. Two days later, while apparently unarmed, Whinnem robbed a bank in Manchester by passing a demand note to the teller. Two days after that, he robbed another bank, this time in Dover, also while unarmed and by passing a demand note to the teller.
Following the wide-spread publication of bank video surveillance footage on local New Hampshire news, authorities identified Whinnem from multiple sources. New Hampshire State Police located and arrested Whinnem on November 30, 2014 in the area of Claremont, NH. He has remained in custody on a New Hampshire state parole violation
Whinnem is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge McCafferty on October 6, 2015 at 2 p.m., at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count of conviction, up to three years’ supervised release, and an order of restitution.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Manchester Police Department, and the Dover Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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