Connecticut police and the FBI are investigating a home invasion and attempted credit union robbery on Monday that involved Matthew Yussman, CFO of the $113 million Achieve Financial Credit Union in Berlin, Conn.

In a joint statement released Tuesday, New Britain and Bristol Police said Yussman had a bomb strapped to his body allegedly by two male suspects. He was then allegedly forced to drive to the cooperative's New Britain branch to rob it. Local media reported the suspects told Yussman the vest with the device they forced him to wear was a remote-controlled bomb.

Police said the incident began in the early morning hours of Feb. 23 when the two suspects, disguised in dark clothing wearing ski masks and goggles, confronted Yussman when he arrived home in Bristol, Conn.

Yussman and his mother were bound and held in the home overnight. The suspects allegedly threatened to kill them both unless he got cash out of the credit union's New Britain office, according to local media reports and the Associated Press.

Yussman was sent out to the credit union when daylight broke with an explosive device affixed to his body, police said.

“Once the victim arrived at the New Britain branch of the Achieve Financial Credit Union he contacted the credit union official who eventually contacted police,” according to the police statement. “That device was eventually rendered safe by the Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad and turned over to the FBI for laboratory analysis. The car that Mr. Yussman had driven to New Britain on the morning of February 23 was seized by the New Britain Police Department and will be processed for evidence by detectives.”

Police did not identify the credit union official Yussman contacted.

In a 15-minute press conference Monday night, New Britain Police Chief James Wardwell said detectives were still trying to determine whether the man (Yussman) was “coerced, doing something against his will or a suspect,” according to the Hartford Courant, a local newspaper.

However, “while at the (Yussman's) home, officers discovered a scheme to steal money from the credit union, Wardell said,” the Associated Press reported Monday.

It is unknown whether any money was stolen from the credit union.

Yussman was treated for exposure after being in the unheated car while the alleged bomb was removed. He did not have any other injuries. The victim's mother was not injured and did not require medical care, police said.

At least one of the male suspects is white with a medium build, according to police. Both males spoke fluent English, but they were reported to have distinct accents that were not consistent with being native to Connecticut, the police said. A possible vehicle identified is an older model white four door Mazda.

Dozens of law enforcement authorities, state police and FBI agents responded to the credit union robbery and several blocks were cordoned off for several hours. Schools in Bristol, Farmington and Plainville, all in Connecticut, were locked down as a precaution, according to the Associated Press.

Late Monday night, the Bristol Police Department executed a search warrant Yussman's home to identify and collect any relevant evidence of the incident.

Andrew J. Klimkoski, president/CEO of Achieve Financial CU, did not return a phone call and email message Tuesday morning seeking comment. In a later email to CU Times, he wrote, “At this point we have an official statement posted on our website and will not be making any further comments while there is an active police investigation taking place.”

“The credit union is pleased that our employee and his family member were not harmed. The credit union is fully cooperating with the police while they investigate the incident,” according to the statement on Achieve Financial CU's website. “We would like to apologize for any inconvenience this situation has caused our members and note that all of our credit union locations are back to full operation. We have no further comment.”

The investigation into what police described as a complex bank robbery scheme continued throughout Monday night and remains active.

“Upon direction of the New Britain State's Attorney's Office, a task force consisting of the New Britain Police Department and the Bristol Police Department has been established,” police said. “Both agencies have enlisted assistance from the FBI and Connecticut State Police to aid in the investigation. The Task Force is releasing limited information as this is an ongoing investigation.”

Achieve Financial CU serves more than 15,000 residents. The credit union operates two branches and a video banking center.

Instant Insights /

CFO in Bomb-Strapped Robbery Attempt

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