A man charged in one of a string of robberies across southern Maine now faces a federal charge.

Travis J. Card, 38, of Westbrook was charged Friday by criminal complaint in U.S. District Court in Portland with interference with commerce by robbery.

Travis Card appears in court for his arraignment on April 17 in Portland. He now faces as much as 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of 11 robberies or attempted robberies. Staff photo by Brianna Soukup

Federal officials said their charge arose from the investigation into armed robberies in the Portland area in early spring. Card was arrested in Westbrook on April 13 by FBI agents and police from three communities.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office mentioned only one robbery in announcing the federal charge and Card so far has been charged with only one robbery in state court.

However, prosecutors have said they believe Card may have committed some or all of 11 unsolved robberies that occurred over four weeks in March and April. Both the state charge and the federal complaint reference one robbery on April 6 in which Card is accused of going into a Westbrook Gulf Mart store, showing the clerk what is believed to have been a black firearm and telling the clerk to open the register and give him money. He took off with more than $500, federal authorities allege.

Card is being held at the Cumberland County Jail in Portland on the state charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Portland has not been scheduled.

If convicted, Card faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Edward D. Murphy can be contacted at 791-6465 or at:

emurphy@pressherald.com