Key Points
- CChristopher White, 39, of Raynham, Massachusetts, received a 154-month prison sentence in federal court for participating in the armed robbery of a cash courier in Swansea.
- Three additional years of supervised release were also ordered by the U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris following the prison sentence.
- The robbery occurred on 19 February 2024, when a courier who was transporting approximately $436,200 in cash belonging to licensed cannabis companies was attacked at gunpoint.
- White and the co-defendant Steven Madison stole a U-Haul van in Abington prior to the robbery, and then used it in the crime and transferred the money to an SUV operated by Quentin McDonald.
- The courier was zip-tied, sprayed with pepper spray, and left alone in his car, although he was able to release one hand to shoot at the van before dialing 911.
- Christopher White pleaded guilty in May 2026 to Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy, brandishing a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
- Steven Madison and Quentin McDonald have pleaded guilty as well; the former will be sentenced on 9 November 2026, and the latter on 3 December 2026.
Swansea (Wales Times) October 24, 2026 – A Raynham man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for his part in the armed robbery of a cash courier carrying roughly $436,200 in deposits from licensed cannabis companies outside a uk/local/swansea/">Swansea bank.
As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Christopher White, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 154 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence was announced on 14 October 2026 by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
White pleaded guilty in May 2026 to five federal charges: robbery interfering with interstate commerce, commonly known as Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The Fall River Reporter, in a report by Ken Paiva, stated that White had prior state convictions for larceny and receiving stolen property.
How did the Swansea cannabis cash robbery unfold?
According to the Department of Justice, White and Steven Madison were recorded on video stealing a rental van from a U-Haul Moving & Storage location in Abington during the early hours of 19 February 2024. Later that day, an armed courier working for a secure cash-transport company arrived at a bank in Swansea with approximately $436,200 in cash for deposit on behalf of licensed cannabis businesses.
As reported by WPRI, the incident occurred in the parking area of a BayCoast Bank in Swansea. The U-Haul pulled alongside the courier’s vehicle. Prosecutors said White, wearing a mask and camouflage vest, left the van and pointed a firearm at the courier before securing the courier’s hands behind his back with zip ties.
The Department of Justice said Madison then loaded the cash into the van. The two men attempted to disarm the courier, forced him into the back seat of his own car, pepper-sprayed him and closed the door. Surveillance footage cited by federal prosecutors showed that the courier freed one hand while inside the vehicle, drew his firearm and fired four rounds towards the U-Haul as it left the scene, before contacting emergency services.
What happened after the cash was stolen?
Federal officials said White and Madison drove the stolen van to another location in Swansea, where they met Quentin McDonald, who was driving an SUV. The men transferred the stolen cash into the SUV and fled.
The Herald News reported that the cash came from Cosmopolitan in Fall River and other dispensaries in the Cape Cod area. The same report stated that the U-Haul was set on fire after the cash transfer, although the Department of Justice’s sentencing release did not include that detail in the passage cited by Fall River Reporter. New Bedford Guide likewise reported that the van was burned after the money was moved to McDonald’s SUV.
Following a search of White’s residence in Raynham, authorities recovered zip ties, a black mask similar to one worn by a robber, a firearm, ammunition and cocaine, according to the Department of Justice account published by Fall River Reporter.
Who else has been charged in the case?
Three men were arrested in May 2024 in connection with the robbery: Steven Madison of Bridgewater, Christopher White of Raynham and Quentin McDonald of Brockton. The initial federal charges included Hobbs Act robbery, arson of property used in or affecting interstate commerce, and conspiracy; Madison and White were also charged with being felons in possession of a firearm.
As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Madison, then 39, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 9 November 2026.
McDonald pleaded guilty in May 2026 to one count of robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 3 December 2026.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Cheng, Allegra Flamm and John J. Reynolds III. The Department of Justice acknowledged assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, and police departments in Bridgewater, Brockton, Raynham and Swansea.
Why was the case prosecuted federally?
The central robbery charge was brought under the Hobbs Act, a federal law covering robbery that interferes with interstate commerce. The Department of Justice said a Hobbs Act robbery conviction can carry up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
The firearm-brandishing charge carried a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, to be served consecutively to any sentence for the underlying offence, according to the Department of Justice. The felon-in-possession charge carried a maximum of 15 years, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
The Boston Globe reported that Judge Saris ordered White to pay $90,000 in restitution, describing that sum as equal to the proceeds he obtained from the offence. New Bedford Guide also reported the $90,000 restitution order.
Background of the development
The robbery occurred on Presidents’ Day, 19 February 2024, when the Swansea bank was closed for the federal holiday. Hoodline reported that the courier arrived at BayCoast Bank at 12:36 p.m. and that the U-Haul arrived two minutes later; because the branch was closed, the courier was using an overnight deposit facility.
The case began with the arrest of Madison, White and McDonald in May 2024. WPRI reported that police initially arrested another person on the day of the robbery, but that person was later cleared of all charges after investigators confirmed they were not involved.
The sentencing follows guilty pleas from all three defendants. White received the first sentence among the three, while Madison and McDonald remain awaiting sentencing later in 2026.
Prediction: How could this affect cannabis businesses and couriers?
For licensed cannabis operators, cash-transport companies and their employees in Massachusetts, the sentence is likely to reinforce the operational and security risks associated with moving large cash deposits. The case shows that cannabis-related cash deliveries can attract organised armed robbery, particularly where businesses must transport substantial proceeds to banks or deposit facilities.
For cannabis businesses, the development may increase attention on cash-handling procedures, courier routes, deposit timing and coordination with secure transport providers. The fact that the courier was carrying approximately $436,200 highlights the scale of cash exposure that can arise where banking access remains limited for parts of the licensed cannabis sector.
For couriers and security staff, the case may prompt greater emphasis on protective protocols, emergency response training and coordination with law enforcement. The courier’s ability to free himself, fire at the fleeing vehicle and call 911 was central to the account released by federal prosecutors, but the incident also demonstrates the physical danger faced during such robberies.
For the wider Swansea and southeastern Massachusetts community, the pending sentences for Madison and McDonald may provide further clarity on the court’s response to the full series of offences. The outcome is also likely to be followed by cannabis operators and cash-security firms assessing whether additional safeguards are needed for high-value deposits.
