Chelsea man charged with series of bank robberies

A Chelsea man was arrested Monday for a series of bank robberies in the Greater Boston area, the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a statement.

Jason S. Englen, 34, nicknamed the “Spelling Bee Bandit,” was charged with the robberies of a TD Bank in Arlington on October 31, a TD Bank in Reading on November 5, a Salem Five bank in Burlington on November 7, and a TD Bank in Peabody on November 13, according to the statement.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said a man entered a TD Bank in Arlington on October 31, approached the teller, and gave them a note on a deposit slip with the word “ROBBERY” written on it. The teller gave the man money from the drawer and the suspect fled the bank.

The suspect’s image was then circulated to the public in an effort to identify him, authorities said. Nearly identical incidents occurred on November 5, 7, and 13. During each robbery, the man told the teller he wanted $20 and $50 bills, according to the statement.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said a bulletin was then circulated seeking the public’s help to identify the suspect based on the similarity of the robberies and the physical description of the man given by the bank tellers.

Authorities were informed that the suspect involved in the robberies was Englen, who was already in state custody on unrelated charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. He was then arrested by federal authorities.

Englen is expected back in court for a probable cause and detention hearing Tuesday, according to the statement.