Pleau to be handed over to feds Weds

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - After months of legal wrangling, accused murderer and bank robber Jason Pleau will be handed over to the feds to face charges in connection with a botched armed robbery.

U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith Tuesday issued a writ ordering Pleau to appear for arraignment at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

• Read in full: Written order from the federal appeals court

Pleau is currently being held at the state ACI. After arraignment he will be transferred to federal custody.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston ruled May 7 that Pleau, 34, may stand trial in federal court on charges he shot and killed gas station manager David Main during a 2010 botched robbery outside a Citizens Bank branch in Woonsocket.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee has been fighting to keep Pleau in state custody.

Typically, bank robbery suspects are prosecuted federally. However, Chafee has refused to surrender Pleau to federal authorities, fearing it would open up the defendant to the death penalty. Rhode Island does not have capital punishment.

Federal prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty in the case.

Lawyers for Pleau and Gov. Lincoln Chafee had requested a delay while they appealed the earlier court ruling to the U .S. Supreme Court. However, last week the high court declined to hear the case.

• Related : In-depth Coverage of Woonsocket Bank Shooting

Main's family has openly criticized the governor for continuing to fight on behalf of the man accused of killing their loved one.