Lynn man sentenced to jail for 2010 crime spree

SALEM – A Lynn man who admitted stealing money from local businesses during a one-month crime spree in Lynn and Swampscott last fall to support his addiction was sentenced to serve 7-to-8 and one-half years in state prison with 12 years of probationTony Goffredo, 29, of 4 Broad St., #2, made his plea Monday afternoon in Salem Superior Court before Judge David A. Lowy to a series of robberies that began last October.Goffredo pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing by confining or putting in fear, three counts of armed robbery while masked as well as armed robbery and unarmed robbery.Goffredo admitted that, on last Oct. 29, he walked into Crown Drug Store, located at 232 Lewis St. in Lynn, demanded money and fled with an undetermined amount of cash.Three days later, Nov. 2, while disguised and holding a gun he robbed $130 from the Dunkin Donuts located at 116 Lewis St. in Lynn.Two days later he returned, disguised again, to the same Dunkin Donuts and stole $80 at gunpoint.Then, on Nov. 13, he walked into the Eastern Bank branch, located at 112 Market St., handed a note to the teller demanding cash and fled with about $300.Four days later, Nov. 17, he walked into the Sovereign Bank branch in Central Square at approximately 11:20 a.m., used the same scenario as the other bank and fled with over $700.Police believe Goffredo used a taxi to flee from the Sovereign Bank.On Nov. 22 he admitted stealing $240 in cash from Starbucks in Vinnin Square in Swampscott and in the early morning hours of Nov. 27, using a pellet gun he again went to the Dunkin Donuts on Lewis Street and fled with $70.But this time, the brazen employees chased Goffredo and caught him following a brief struggle on Red Rock Street. They herded him back to the store where police were waiting for him.Goffredo admitted robbing the local businesses and said he did it to pay his bills, but also had a three gram-a-day heroin habit.Goffredo was later linked to the bank robberies through the banks? surveillance tapes.Assistant District Attorney Christina Pugals Ronan argued for a longer punishment of at least nine years in state prison based on the crimes and his prior record, pointing out that Goffredo has served time in state prison in 2007 for robberies out of Essex and Middlesex counties.Defense lawyer Alice Jayne asked for seven years in prison with three years probation, reminding Lowy that her client had a heroin addiction and that all the incidents occurred within a one-month span.The 12-year probation term is to commence immediately. Goffredo was also ordered to get his GED (General Equivalency Degree) while incarcerated, attend Alcohol Anonymous meetings four or five times a week while in prison and complete any drug programs offered.Upon his release from prison, Goffredo must enter and complete an inpatient drug program or halfway house, consent to random alcohol and drug screens and have a job or five applications on file.Goffredo has been held in custody in lieu of bail since his arrest and will receive credit for that time already served towards his term of incarceration.