Serial robber gets 8 1/2 years in federal prison for armed holdups of stores in Dorchester, Brockton

A federal judge last week sentenced Fernando Bost, 32, to 8 1/2 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to robbing the RJ Smoke and Convenience Store at 844 Blue Hill Ave. in Dorchester on March 29, 2023 - just 35 minutes after he'd held up a store in Brockton.

Both prosecutors and Bost's attorney agreed on the length of the sentence, although while a prosecutor tried to convince US District Court Judge Allison Burroughs not to impose a shorter sentence, Bost's attorney tried to convince her not to impose a longer one.

In his sentencing memorandum, assistant US Attorney Luke Goldworm acknowledged Boston "endured a challenging childhood fraught with instability and
potential abuse" that may have "translated into his limited capacity to hold down any consistent employment during his adult life," but said Bost also failed to take advantage of "any potential opportunities to better himself or change direction" during and in-between his spells in behind bars:

Instead of correcting his behavior, it appears that time and time again, he has reoffended and done so with somewhat concerning intensification both with regard to the seriousness of the offenses and the level of violence he is utilizes. The government is placed in a difficult position of how best to calculate the metrics and measures for an appropriate sentence here and it seems the only solution to solving BOST's seeming inability to keep from reoffending, is to apply another lengthy period of incarceration. A period of incarceration longer than his last.

Bost's attorney, Joshua Hanye, though, pointed to Bost's "swift acceptance of responsibility" this time around as proof he is, finally, willing to change - he first appeared in federal court on Sept. 18 and agreed to plead guilty on Nov. 8.

Mr. Bost hopes that federal incarceration and supervision will provide more resources than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been able to so far.

Bost's criminal record (from federal prosecutors):

• 2022 – Breaking and Entering in the Day Time with Intent to Commit a Felony & Receiving Stolen Property (MA) – Open Case in Default Status.
• 2017 – Armed Robbery, Assault Deadly Weapon (x4), Kidnapping (x4) (MA) – Guilty, Incarceration for 6 yrs. to 6 yrs. and one day.
• 2012 – Armed Robbery (x4) (MA) – Guilty, Incarceration for 4.5 yrs. to 5.5 yrs.
• 2012 – Larceny from a Person (MA) – Guilty, Incarceration for 2 yrs. with 1 yr. suspended. After violation of probation additional 1 yr. served.
• 2009 – Receiving Stolen Property, Resisting Arrest, & Leaving the Scene (MA) – Guilty, Incarceration for thirty days after violation of probation.