Medford Couple Found Guilty for 2008 Armed Robberies

A Medford man and his girlfriend have been convicted in connection with a series of armed robberies and attempted robberies in Cambridge and Somerville in 2008.

Vincent Primo, 41, of Medford, plead guilty the night before his trial to all charges, which include four counts of armed robbery, two counts of armed assault with intent to rob, two counts of credit card fraud over $250, and one count each of unarmed robbery, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, and assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

Middlesex Superior Court Judge Fahey sentenced Primo to 16-20 years at MCI Cedar Junction, with 5 years probation.

Kim Szathmary, 42, also of Medford, was found guilty Wednesday by a Middlesex Superior Court Jury on charges of armed robbery unarmed robbery (2 counts), armed assault with intent to rob (2 counts), assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and credit card fraud over $250 (2 counts).

Judge Fahey sentenced Szathmary to 7-10 years at MCI Framingham, with 5 years probation.

“These defendants preyed on women who were on their way home near various transportation stations in Somerville and Cambridge, putting the residents of those communities in great fear,” Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone said. “We commend the excellent cooperative work between the Somerville and Cambridge Police Departments, as well as the State Police assigned to this office in building the cases that led to these significant community-impact guilty convictions.”

According to authorities, between November 19 and December 10, 2008, seven separate robbery attempts and armed robbery incidents were reported in the Cambridge and Somerville area. The offenses were all committed by a similarly described male who robbed or attempted to rob women of their handbags on streets near public transportation routes. In one instance, Primo stabbed the victim multiple times, causing the victim to suffer a collapsed lung.

Szathmary was observed by surveillance cameras at an area bank and at area Target stores using the victims’ credit and ATM cards. Szathmary also drove the car Primo made his escape in after each robbery.

Witnesses and victims helped the Somerville and Cambridge Police departments arrest the pair after recognizing them in composites and surveillance photos in the local media.

Primo and Szathmary were arrested on December 13, 2008, shortly after their last robbery attempt on December 10.

The case was investigated by Cambridge Police, Somerville Police, and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Cambridge Regional Chief and Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Lynch. The Victim Witness Advocate is Daniela Bianco.

Information submitted by Middlesex County DA