CT Gambling Addiction: Prison Again For Serial Bank Robber

Prison Again For Serial Bank Robber With Gambling Addiction
Man Did 2 Stints In Prison for 2005 Heists, And Is Going Back For A 2010 Holdup
By ALAINE GRIFFIN
The Hartford Courant

MIDDLETOWN ——
Mark P. Miller was known as the dapper bank robber who pulled some of his heists on his lunch break from his job as a car sales manager, writing polite notes to frightened tellers asking them to turn over cash.

After two stints in prison for robbing banks in Cromwell, Meriden and Middletown in 2005 to fuel an out-of-control gambling problem, Miller was back in Superior Court again Tuesday, this time for the same crime.

Despite such drastic moves as adding his name to the list of problem gamblers who voluntarily agree to be cited for trespassing if they show up at either Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods Resort Casino, Miller could not kick the habit, his attorney said Tuesday.

A solemn — and still very polite — Miller, 45, of Middletown, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of third-degree robbery, being a persistent serious felony offender and violating probation. As part of a plea deal, Miller will be sentenced in September to eight years in prison suspended after five years served and three years' probation.

The latest bank heist linked to Miller was the Dec. 23, 2010, bank robbery at the former Wachovia Bank on Washington Street in Middletown. Middlesex State's Attorney Timothy J. Liston said Miller passed a note to the teller demanding cash. The note thanked the teller for her cooperation, Liston said.

Miller escaped with $690 cash but later turned himself in to police.

As a persistent felony offender, Miller could have received more than 10 years in prison. Such laws with enhanced penalties were passed to combat recidivism for criminals who demonstrate a pattern of resistance to rehabilitation.

After Tuesday's hearing, Miller's public defender, James S. McKay, expressed frustration that Miller, a college-educated professional, was unable to kick the gambling habit and was headed to prison again for the same crime.

"It's a real cautionary tale," McKay said. "From our perspective, this is a good example of how you might save the state a lot of money by having adequate gambling programs."

McKay, however, said he did not know if Miller was treated for his gambling addiction while serving time in prison. Brian Garnett, a spokesman for the state Department of Correction, said he could not comment on any treatment Miller received while in prison, saying such "programming is confidential by law."

In December 2006, Miller was sentenced to three years and three months in prison for robbing a Cromwell Bank in February of that year, his third admitted bank robbery since June 2005.

While on probation after his release from prison in November 2005, Miller managed to stay away from Connecticut's casinos but ended up frequenting casinos in Atlantic City.

In February 2006, Miller robbed the Liberty Bank branch at Willowbrook Plaza in Cromwell, escaping with more than $5,000. But the money went fast at the slots and poker tables and he ended up homeless.

A Superior Court judge cut Miller a break at the December 2006 sentencing, opting to disregard prosecutors' and bank employees' pleas to send Miller to prison for five years.

Instead, Miller was sentenced to 39 months in prison and was ordered to get help for his gambling addiction.

At the time of the Cromwell robbery, Miller was serving two years' probation for robbing banks in Middletown and Meriden in June 2005.