The two men accused of robbing a Needham bank Wednesday were held yesterday on $250,000 bail.
Dimitri Long, 32, of Norwood and Michael Coty, 44, of Dedham pleaded not guilty yesterday morning in Dedham District Court.
Federal officials said Wednesday that Long and Coty may be connected to the recent string of heists that have been attributed to the "U30" bandit and Assistant District Attorney Keith McCray said Wednesday's robbery had a "high level of sophistication."
"It is the commonwealth's opinion that this was not an isolated event," McCray said. He said the men could be facing federal charges as well.
Long and Coty were charged with armed robbery while masked, assault with a gun, stealing from a depository by intimidation, larceny over $250, using a motor vehicle in a felony and conspiracy to commit a crime.
According to McCray, officers from several law enforcement agencies had set up surveillance on Coty Wednesday and saw him meet with Long. The two went to several banks in the area before stopping at the Sovereign Bank on Highland Avenue, McCray said.
Officers watched as Coty dropped Long off and circled around the bank while Long put up his hood and went inside.
Coty noticed the police and sped away in a car, McCray said. He was captured on Country Club Road in Newton. Long reportedly went into the bank with a pellet gun and demanded money, receiving about $10,000.
When he left the bank, police were waiting. Long reportedly took off running and dropped the gun on Highland Avenue before being tackled by police. Long "struggled throughout the capture process," McCray said.
Long's attorney, James W. McCarthy, told reporters after the arraignment he was not concerned that his client had been under surveillance.
"So what?" McCarthy said. "People are under surveillance all the time."
Both men have extensive criminal records. Long has had 24 "adult contacts with law enforcement," according to court reports, and Coty has had 29 adult contacts with law enforcement since 1981, mostly larceny and violent offenses, McCray said.
Long's most recent conviction was for kidnapping, assault with intent to kill and violating civil rights. He was sentenced to 3 to 3 1/2 years in state prison after beating a Norwood man with a baseball bat, burning him with lit cigarettes and drawing a swastika on his forehead and a racial slur on his back before taking him to some railroad tracks and leaving him for dead.
Coty and Long will be back in court for a probable cause hearing on July 22.
