'Career Criminal' Sentenced to 12 Years in NK Robbery

Frederick Burdick of Warwick has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after he attacked and attempted to rob a restaurant employee making a night deposit at the North Kingstown Bank of America back in January.

Burdick, 26, was sentenced Monday in federal court to 151 months in a federal prison for the attempted robbery. U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith ordered Burdick to serve three years' supervised release upon compeltion of his sentence.

In January, Burdick attempted to rob a restaurant employee in her 40s who was making a night deposit at the Bank of America on Post Road. According to police, Burdick (wearing all black and donning a mask) threatened the woman and pistol-whipped her. The victim starting screaming and beeping her horn, catching the attention of a father and son who were walking their dog nearby. Burdick then fled the scene with the woman's keys and cell phone.

Fingerprints on the side of the victim's car matched Burdick's and he was arrested two weeks after the incident. In August 2012, Burdick pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery – extortion or robbery by force.

According to a press release from the FBI, Burdick is described as a "career criminal" who was been arrested and convictedin Rhode Island state court more than two dozen times. According to the Rhode Island Judiciary's website, he has seen charges from various police departments since turning 18 in 2004. Over the past seven years, Burdick has been charged with offenses including vandalism, domestic assault, larceny, disorderly conduct, eluding police, obstructing an officer in the line of duty, operating a stolen vehicle and drunken driving.