A Medford man and his girlfriend have been convicted in connection with a series of armed robberies and attempted robberies in Cambridge and Somerville, the office Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone reported Thursday, April 1.

Vincent Primo, 41, pleaded guilty on the eve of trial to all charges. Kim Szathmary, 42, was found guilty March 31 by Middlesex Superior Court jury.

Charges against Primo included armed robbery (four counts), unarmed robbery, armed assault with intent to rob (two 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 (two counts). Middlesex Superior Court Judge Fahey sentenced Primo to 16-20 years at MCI Cedar Junction, with five years' probation from and after.

Charges against Szathmary were unarmed robbery (two counts), armed assault with intent to rob (two counts), assault and battery with a  deadly weapon, and credit card fraud over $250 (two counts). Fahey sentenced Szathmary to 7-10 years at MCI Framingham with five years' probation from and after.

“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,” Leone said.  â€œWe 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 Nov. 19, 2008, and Dec. 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 once 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. 

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 Dec. 13, 2008. They were arraigned in Somerville District Court on Dec. 15 before Somerville District Court Judge Maurice Flynn. Flynn ordered Primo held without bail and Szathmary was ordered held on $500 cash bail.

Primo and Szathmary were indicted by a Middlesex Superior Court Grand Jury on Feb. 6, 2009.

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.