Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing BBVA Compass Bank in January 2012

ALBUQUERQUE—Abran Felipe Armijo, 45, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded guilty this morning to a bank robbery charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Armijo will be sentenced to a federal prison term within the range of 10 to 15 years.

Armijo was arrested on January 4, 2012, based on a criminal complaint charging him with bank robbery and subsequently was indicted on the same charge on January 26, 2012. According to the indictment, Armijo robbed the BBVA Compass Bank branch located at 13140 Central Avenue SE in Albuquerque on January 4, 2012.

During today’s proceedings, Armijo entered a guilty plea to the indictment. Armijo admitted that on January 4, 2012, he walked into the BBVA Compass Bank, approached the bank teller, said, “This is a robbery,” and threatened to shoot the teller if he had to show the teller his gun. Armijo admitted obtaining cash from the bank teller and fleeing on foot. He further admitted that later that day, officers of the Albuquerque Police Department found him hiding in a closet in an apartment with a coat covering his head. A bag containing the money he stole from the bank was found in the sleeve of the coat.

Armijo has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque Field Office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis E. Valencia.