Medford Couple Indicted for Local Armed Robberies

The following information was released Friday afternoon from Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone:

A Medford man and his girlfriend have been indicted in connection with a series of armed robberies and attempted robberies in Cambridge and Somerville , Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Vincent Primo, 40, of Medford, and Kim Szathmary, 41, of Medford, were indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on charges of armed robbery (4 counts), unarmed robbery, armed assault with intent to rob (2 counts), armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and credit card fraud over $250 (2 counts).

An arraignment date has been set for February 10.

“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,” District Attorney Leone said. “We commend the excellent cooperative work between the Somerville and Cambridge Police Departments in making these arrests and building the cases that led to these indictments.”

According to authorities, between November 19 and December 10, 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 once instance, Primo is alleged to have stabbed the victim multiple times, causing the victim to suffer a collapsed lung. The defendant, Primo, was identified in a police photo array by multiple victims.

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

Somerville and Cambridge Police Departments were aided by information provided by witnesses and victims who recognized the suspects’ composite and surveillance photos that were broadcasted on the local media, leading to Primo and Szathmary’s arrest.

The defendants were arrested on December 13. They were arraigned in Somerville District Court on December 15 before Somerville District Court Judge Maurice Flynn. Flynn ordered Primo held without bail and Szathmary was ordered held on $500 cash bail.

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.