Additional charges laid, one still at-large in special investigation into armed bank robberies

Ontario Provincial Police have laid additional charges against a man from Coburg Friday connected to a series of armed bank robberies across Ontario.

Between Dec. 8, 2022 and March 16, 2024, a series of eight armed bank robberies took place in areas policed by the OPP, as well as five other areas of the province.

In each robbery, two to three people entered a bank just before closing, who wore different disguises at each robbery.

During all of the robberies, at least one handgun was brandished, though no injuries occurred.

Police say in the last six robberies, bank employees were bound.

In Aug. 2023, the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) became involved to coordinate the investigation into the wanted suspects. A special task force called Project Opal was created.

Project Opal identified similar characteristics in the robberies, which pointed to a single group of perpetrators.

The police departments involved in the investigations were in Niagara, Barrie, Belleville, Durham and York.

Investigators say the group of suspects are responsible for more than $2 million in reported losses across eight banks.

They say the money has not been recovered yet.

The robbery in Niagara Falls was on Feb. 23, 2023 at Meridian Credit Union on Portage Road.

Arrests and charges made against bank robbery suspects

Three suspects were arrested on June 21, 2024, during an attempted robbery in Field, Ont., by OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit and the Aviation Unit, with assistance from OPP West Nipissing Major Crime and CIB.

A fourth suspect was arrested Sept. 25, 2024, in Vaughan.

OPP charged 33-year-old Roderick Newman of Coburg Friday, with two counts of robbery with a restricted or prohibited weapon, in relation to robberies in Barrie and Newmarket.

The fifth suspect, Akeem Williams, a 33-year-old of Ajax, was charged and remains wanted.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to not approach him, and instead contact police immediately.

The investigation continues, and police are urging anyone with information to contact their local police, the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers.

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