A Westbrook man accused of committing a series of armed robberies in southern Maine this spring pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland to 11 counts, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Travis Jonathon Card, 38, waived indictment and admitted he robbed or attempted to rob 11 businesses between March 20 and April 11, according to court documents.
By pleading guilty, Card admitted that he brandished a gun during the following robberies on the following dates:
— Riverton Gas Station in Portland on March 20
— Lil’ Mart Gas Station in Falmouth on March 21
— Good Things Variety in Westbrook on March 22
— Express Mart in Cumberland on March 22
— Daily Grind in Westbrook on March 24
— China Taste in Portland on March 25
— Subway in Westbrook on March 26
— Aroma Joe’s in South Portland on March 27
— China Eatery in Old Orchard Beach on March 29
— Gulf Mart in Westbrook on April 6
— Moby Dick Variety in Old Orchard Beach on April 11
Card left China Taste, Aroma Joe’s and Moby Dick Variety without any cash when clerks either did not understand English or thwarted Card’s efforts, according to the prosecution version of events to which he pleaded guilty.
In all, Card admitted to stealing nearly $3,000, according to court documents.
The least amount of money the alleged robber got away with was $198.11 on March 21 from a Falmouth gas station. The most was during a robbery the next day when an estimated $650 to $700 was allegedly taken from a Cumberland convenience store.
Police departments in Cumberland County increased patrols because of business owners’ concerns as the robberies continued into April.
Card was arrested April 13 and charged in Cumberland County with one county of Class A robbery. Card was charged with in federal court in June. He has been jailed since his arrest.
Card’s attorney, Heather Gonzales of Portland, said Friday in an email that her client was relieved to be able to take responsibility for his actions and spare the victims from having to testify before a grand jury or having to testify during a trial.
“He is extremely remorseful and did not fight the charges, but instead chose to cooperate with the investigation immediately after his initial appearance in state court on April 17,” she said. “This was extraordinary, given that the evidence regarding some of the robberies did not necessarily point to Mr. Card, and therefore, he was not even the subject of the investigation regarding several of these incidents.
“He is now ready to proceed to sentencing and accept his punishment for these crimes,” Gonzales continued. “I don’t believe anyone would disagree that at his core, Travis is a good person who was overcome by opiate addiction and made incredibly devastating choices to feed his habit. Now he is doing the right thing.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on Card’s pleas. It is the practice of the office not to issue statements until cases conclude with sentencings.
Card faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each robbery or attempted, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He also could be ordered to pay restitution.
A sentencing date has not been set.
Card’s plea agreement with federal prosecutors does not include a sentencing recommendation.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is composed of agents and officers from the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Portland, South Portland, and Lewiston police departments; in conjunction with the Westbrook, Falmouth, Cumberland, and Old Orchard Beach police departments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
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