Accomplice pleads guilty in bank murder

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A woman charged in connection with a deadly shooting outside a Woonsocket bank pleaded guilty Friday to federal robbery and firearm charges.

Kelly Lajoie, 33, of Chicopee, Massachusetts entered her guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Providence.

Lajoie admitted that she conspired with co-defendants Jason Pleau and Jose Santiago in the robbery and killing of gas station manager David Main outside a Citizens Bank branch in Woonsocket back in September 2010.

Lajoie says she acted as the look-out and alerted Pleau when Main was leaving the gas station to make a deposit at the bank, so Pleau could rob him. 

At that point, Lajoie says she drove to an apartment in Providence where she, Pleau, and Santiago, the accused getaway driver, agreed to meet after the hold-up.  Meanwhile, prosecutors say Pleau shot and killed David Main and stole his deposit bag containing $12,542 in cash. 

Lajoie told the court that she met up with Pleau and Santiago later that day and they split the money.

"It was really hard to hear all of that. It was a really tough day," said Main's sister Deborah Smith.

Lajoie's brother said her actions were out of fear.

"Primarily getting a gun shoved down her throat again in front of the kids. Santiago shoved a gun down my sister's throat in front of my niece and nephew one day," said Richard Fortier.

Lajoie pleaded guilty Friday to Hobbs Act conspiracy, aiding and abetting a Hobbs Act robbery, and use of a firearm during a federal crime of violence.

Pleau and Santiago face the same charges.  Their cases are still pending in federal court.  Lajoie faces life in prison plus 40 years. Sentencing is scheduled for March 2012.

• Information on the Hobbs Act provided by the FBI:

The Hobbs Act was passed in 1946 as an amendment to the 1934 Anti-Racketeering Act. Both laws target labor racketeering and organized crime activities, but the Hobbs Act has been used successfully in recent years against armed robbers who victimize businesses. The law criminalizes obstruction, delay, or impact on interstate commerce by robbery or extortion with the use of actual or threatened violence.

Benefits of the Hobbs Act.

There are three main advantages:

• The penalties are harsher than in local prosecutions. Sentences of 20, 30, or 50 years, and even life sentences, have already been handed out by federal courts around the country.

• Since the federal system has no parole, anyone receiving a federal sentence serves out the full term (no early-out for good behavior).

• Faced with long prison sentences, some of the suspects in these cases will cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutors—giving up names and knowledge of other crimes—in return for reduced sentences.