February 12

Westbrook bank robber gets 15 years

By Scott Dolan sdolan@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

PORTLAND – A Westbrook man who robbed a series of banks in Maine last year was sentenced in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to serve 15 years in prison.

Paul Sans, 30, had pleaded guilty in federal court in October to four counts of bank robbery and one count of interference with commerce by robbery.

His getaway driver, Maria Mattson, 31, of Westbrook, was sentenced in December to serve 50 months in federal prison.

Sans robbed the Cumberland Farms on Pine Street in Portland on Jan. 11, 2012; the University Credit Union on Forest Avenue in Portland on Jan. 12, 2012; the TruChoice Credit Union on Park Avenue in Portland on Jan. 19, 2012; the Evergreen Credit Union in Windham on Feb. 7, 2012; and Auburn Savings Bank FSB in Lewiston on Feb. 15, 2012, according to court records.

In each robbery, Mattson drove while Sans went into the bank wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a mask and gloves, and carrying what appeared to be a handgun.

They were arrested on Feb. 15, 2012, after the robbery at Auburn Savings Bank in Lewiston. As Sans got into the getaway vehicle, a dye pack that the teller had given him exploded. Police apprehended them as they tried to drive away, according to court records.

In addition to the prison term, Judge George Singal sentenced Sans to three years of supervised release and $19,161 in restitution to be paid jointly with Mattson.

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