Defendant Arrested and Charged with Attempted Robbery at Regions Bank in Cooper City

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office; and James K. Loftus, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, announce that defendant Oscar Lopez, 27, has been arrested and charged with the attempted robbery of a Regions Bank in Cooper City, FL, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113. If convicted, he faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

According to the allegations in the complaint affidavit filed in this case, on May 20, 2010, Lopez attempted to rob the Regions Bank, located at 9100 Griffin Road, Cooper City, Florida. Lopez allegedly displayed a demand note that read “BANK ROBBERY” and told the teller “Hundreds and fifties.” Lopez fled from the bank on foot without taking any money after bank employees announced that the bank was being robbed. Law enforcement officers identified Lopez from surveillance photographs, eyewitness identifications, and law enforcement databases.

According to the allegations in the complaint affidavit in this case, Lopez had also robbed the Chase Bank, located at 9499 Sheridan Street, Cooper City, Florida, on March 17, 2010. Lopez allegedly displayed a demand note that read, “This is a robbery,” and also told the teller, “This is a robbery.” He also allegedly demanded all of the 100- and 50-dollar bills in the teller’s drawer. Lopez took approximately $2,000.00 in U.S. currency from that bank.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow appointed the Federal Public Defender’s Office to represent Lopez. An arraignment is scheduled before the Fort Lauderdale Duty Magistrate Judge at 11:00 a.m., June 7, 2010.

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

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami-Dade Police Department, and Broward Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Linder.

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.