El Paso Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Committing Armed Robberies

United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced that in El Paso this morning, 45-year-old Ismael Serna Moreno was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $47,285.14 restitution for committing several bank and retail store robberies.

In September, Moreno pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery, two counts of violating the Hobbs Act (robbery affecting interstate commerce), and two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence. By pleading guilty, Moreno admitted that between April 2009 and June 2009, he robbed four financial institutions including First Federal Bank, BBVA Compass Bank, and two Bank of America branches. Moreno also admitted that between February 2007 and March 2009, he stole jewelry from five El Paso businesses including two Cash America Pawn shops, Benny’s Pawn Shop, and two First Cash Pawn shops. Finally, Moreno admitting that he used a Lorcin .380 pistol during the March 9, 2007 robbery of First Cash Pawn located on Alameda Drive, and that he used a Glock 9mm pistol during the March 3, 2009 robbery of Cash America Pawn on North Lee Trevino.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the El Paso Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney J. Brandy Gardes is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.