ALBANY, NY — A Rhode Island man admitted in federal court Tuesday to stealing more than $55,000 from ATMs across multiple states, including New York, Massachusetts, and Kentucky, and transporting stolen funds across state lines, prosecutors announced.
David Degrasse, 59, of West Warwick, pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property in connection with a series of burglaries targeting small businesses. He remains in custody pending sentencing.
According to court documents, Degrasse sawed into an ATM at a restaurant in Catskill, New York, in the early morning hours of April 27, 2023, stealing approximately $9,300, which he transported out of the state. He had also attempted to burglarize a convenience store in Hillsdale, New York, after cutting its alarm wires, but abandoned the effort before moving on to the Catskill location.
In his plea, Degrasse also admitted to similar ATM thefts in Walden and Pine Plains, New York; Lenox, New York; Concord, Massachusetts; and Bagdad, Kentucky. In total, he stole more than $55,000 from machines across the six locations.
As part of his plea agreement, Degrasse has agreed to forfeit the $9,300 stolen in Catskill and pay restitution.
“David Degrasse’s multi-state crime spree is over,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III.
Degrasse faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release at sentencing. No date has yet been set.