Defendant Charged with Robbery at Palm Springs Wachovia Bank

Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, Jay Pickens, Chief, Palm Springs Police Department, and Phillip Ludos, Director, Greenacres Police Department, announce that defendant Christopher M. Walters, 31, of Palm Springs, Florida, has been charged with robbery of a Wachovia Bank in Palm Springs, FL, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113.  If convicted, he faces 20 years in prison.

According to the complaint affidavit, on November 17, 2009, at approximately 11:13 a.m., defendant Walters robbed the Wachovia Bank on Forest Hill Boulevard in Palm Springs. Walters allegedly approached a teller, placed a package on the counter, and handed the teller a note demanding money and telling her he had a bomb. After receiving the money, Walters left the package on the counter and left the bank. Law enforcement officers recovered the package, which was believed to possibly contain a bomb, and determined that it contained a fire extinguisher.

At approximately 3:00 pm that same day, law enforcement responded to a shooting call in Greenacres, Florida. At the scene, witnesses stated that someone had discharged a firearm in a residence. Officers found Walters on the scene and were able to link items found in Walter’s possession to the Wachovia Bank robbery. The officers found money, bank wrappings, clothing, and other items that linked Walters to the robbery. Walters was arrested on the scene.

A Complaint is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Palm Springs Police Department, and the Greenacres Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaniek Maynard.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.