Two brothers were indicted on January 16th for allegedly staging a bank robbery from the Energy Credit Union in West Roxbury, Massachusetts on Sept. 24 2024. The defendants, brothers Jenel and Justin Flounoury, face charges of conspiracy and larceny from a credit union.
According to the indictment, Jenel Flounoury, a 29-year-old bank teller at the credit union, allegedly used his former position to orchestrate the crime. The charging documents allege that he arranged for a large deposit to be stored in a vault section he could access and coordinated with his brother, Justin, to stage a fake robbery.
During the alleged robbery, Justin Flounoury reportedly handed Jenel a note demanding money. Instead of using his teller drawer, Jenel accessed the vault directly, loading nearly $200,000 into a bag and delivering it to the “robber.” That same evening, a search of the brothers’ residence recovered over $160,000 in cash, including marked bills from the credit union’s vault. Evidence also included cell phone location data placing Justin Flounoury near the credit union at the time of the robbery.
The Legal Stakes
Both brothers are charged with:
Conspiracy: A crime that can involve planning or participating in illegal activity, even if someone didn’t directly carry out the crime. This charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, along with three years of supervised release and fines up to $250,000.
Larceny from a Credit Union: This is a theft charge that provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000.
The Complexities of Larceny and Conspiracy Charges
Larceny and the Value of Stolen Property: In larceny cases, penalties often depend on the value of the stolen property. Crimes involving large amounts of money, such as this case, carry more severe consequences.
Conspiracy and Shared Responsibility: Conspiracy is a particularly complex charge because it doesn’t always require someone to carry out the crime directly. For example, an individual may face conspiracy charges simply for assisting in planning or facilitating the crime. This can lead to people being swept up in criminal charges even if their role was minor.
Defending Against Financial Crime and Larceny Charges
While the allegations in this case are serious, being charged with conspiracy or larceny does not mean that a conviction or heavy penalties are inevitable. There are numerous defenses that an experienced criminal defense attorney can explore, for example:
Challenging the evidence, such as questioning the reliability of surveillance, witness testimony, or cellphone data.
Demonstrating a lack of intent or knowledge of the crime.
Proving that the accused was coerced or forced to participate.
If you are accused of a serious financial crime involving large amounts of property, it’s critical to have a Boston larceny defense attorney by your side who can explore the defenses available to you and protect your rights.
Individuals facing allegations of serious crimes should seek legal representation as soon as possible. A skilled criminal defense attorney can help you understand the charges, navigate the legal process, and work to protect your rights.
If you or a loved one is facing charges of larceny, conspiracy, or other financial crimes, don’t face the system alone. Please contact our attorneys today at 617-880-6155 and a member of our experienced larceny and financial crimes defense team at Dhar Law, LLP will speak with you about your case. We have defended countless serious cases in federal courts and we will work tirelessly to explore the best ways to protect your rights and your future.
