U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney

District of Connecticut

PRESS RELEASE

January 29, 2009

STAMFORD MAN WHO THREATENED TO SHOOT BANK EMPLOYEES PLEADS GUILTY

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEPHEN MONTALVO, 60, of Stamford, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport to one count of threatening to kill and injure the employees and managers of an HSBC Bank branch located at 101 Broad Street in Stamford.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in Court, on September 30, 2008, an employee of a different bank that was located near the HSBC branch received a telephone voice mail message from MONTALVO.  In the message, MONTALVO mentioned his frustration about trying to locate money he had previously invested with HSBC, and stated, among other things, “I’ll walk in that office with a gun, I swear to God . . . I don’t care anymore, they stole my money . . . they’re playing me, and I don’t like to be played.”   This witness knew from prior encounters with MONTALVO that MONTALVO was angry with HSBC after having lost money on certain investments.

MONTALVO is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on April 17, 2009, at which time MONTALVO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

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