A Dracut, Massachusetts, man was arrested on Thursday and charged in connection with the armed robbery of three convenience stores in Lowell and Tewksbury on Christmas Eve 2020, federal prosecutors announced.
On Christmas Eve, 32-year-old Michael Vangpa robbed three Massachusetts convenience stores — two in Lowell and one in Tewksbury — all within an hour, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced Friday.
In each of the robberies, Vangpa allegedly showed a gun and demanded money from the store clerks. Prosecutors also said he fired the gun in one of the robberies.
Vangpa is charged with interfering with commerce by robbery and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
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The charge of interference with commerce by robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence provides for a sentence of up to life in prison and a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Vangpa made an initial appearance Friday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell, then was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled on Monday. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak to the charges.
