Three Men Arrested in Takeover-Style Bank Robbery Investigation

San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter announces the arrests of Mustafa Ahmad Naushad, age 30, Tamim Abdul-Samad, a.k.a Brandon Harris, age 34 and Darryl Eugene Peterson, a.k.a. “Najim,” age 26, on federal bank robbery charges.

Tamim Abdul-Samad was arrested on Friday, July 2, 2010, in San Diego, California. Mustafa Ahmad Naushad was arrested on Saturday, July 3, 2010, in Charlotte, North Carolina and Daryl Eugene Peterson was arrested on Friday, July 9, 2010, in San Diego, California. All three men were arrested pursuant to federal arrest warrants issued by the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, charging them with violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a), bank robbery.

According to the complaint filed in this matter by a San Diego Sheriff’s Detective assigned to the FBI Violent Crimes Safe Streets Task Force, it is alleged the three men conducted a takeover-style bank robbery on Monday, April 19, 2010. Specifically, on Monday, April 19, 2010, at approximately 11:00 a.m. the Citibank, located at 3777 Avocado Boulevard, in the unincorporated area of La Mesa, California, was robbed by the three men.

During the robbery, one of the robbers displayed a handgun and ordered everyone in the bank to get down. Everyone, including the customers, dropped to the floor immediately. The two other suspects climbed over the teller windows while the first suspect remained out front. During the robbery, the robbers kicked three tellers in the head and/or neck area.

Tamim Abdul-Samad and Darryl Eugene Peterson are currently being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego. Mustafa Ahmad Naushad is currently being held in a detention facility in North Carolina. Efforts are being made to return Naushad to San Diego.

This case was investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Safe Streets Task Force and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendants committed crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.