BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - The ringleader arrested in connection with an armed bank robbery on Martha’s Vineyard in 2022 was sentenced to prison. According to the Justice Department in Boston, the ringleader, 33-year-old Miquel Antonio Jones of Edgartown, along with co-defendants, Omar Odion Johnson of Canterbury, N.H., Romane Andre Clayton of Jamaica, and Tevin Porter, of Bridgeport, Conn., robbed Rockland Trust Bank branch in Vineyard Haven at gunpoint. Three Lowell teenagers arrested in connection with allegedlly stealing from mailboxes (Department of Justice) On November 17, 2022, three masked and armed individuals forced their way into the rear door of the bank wearing dark-colored clothing and white masks that resembled an elderly man with exaggerated facial features. Surveillance showed that one was carrying what appeared to be a walkie-talkie. One of the suspects allegedly held a gun to the head of one of the bank employees and forced him to open the bank’s vault. Approximately $39,100 was taken and the employees were bound with duct tape and plastic zip ties. The suspects got away in an employee’s car.  The investigation revealed Jones, Porter, and Johnson as the three suspects. Porter and Clayton left Martha’s Vineyard together on a ferry and Jones and Johnson drove to a local farm associated with Jones’s landscaping job to dispose of any evidence. At the farm, detectives found two firearms used in the robbery in a hole in the ground, and the remainder of the robbery equipment, including the plastic masks was found burned. (Department of Justice) Approximately $39,100 was found at the home of Jones in his bedroom under a bureau. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Clayton, Johnson and Porter have each pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8, Jan. 9, and Jan. 28. “Protecting the people of Massachusetts from criminal conduct comes in many forms, and this case highlights some of the most old-fashioned, blatant and terrifying criminal behavior we face: armed bank robbery. Miquel Antonio Jones orchestrated and led a calculated and violent robbery that terrorized bank employees and the surrounding community. His conduct left lasting emotional scars, and today, he is paying a significant price for his actions,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy “This decade-long sentence sends a clear message: such violent and calculated crimes have no place in our communities. We will not tolerate those who threaten the safety of others, and we will continue to pursue justice to ensure Massachusetts remains a safe place for all who live and work here.” (Department of Justice) “This was a bold and brazen armed robbery carried out on a picturesque island at the start of the day. The ringleader of this robbery crew, Miquel Antonio Jones, showed up armed with loaded firearms, zip ties, duct tape, and plastic masks and forced employees into the bank at gunpoint, making them fear for their lives,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “It’s incredibly fortunate no one was hurt before the armed robbers opted to flee. Today’s sentence makes it clear that bank robbery is not an easy payday, it’s a federal crime, and the FBI and our partners will ensure perpetrators like Jones are held fully accountable.” Local News Headlines Cold weather may cause battery and tire issues Revenge porn law implemented in West Springfield Family homelessness on the rise in Massachusetts Springfield City Council sets goals for 2025 legislative year WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.