Driver of ‘Chubby Bandit’ Bank Robber Convicted
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 14, 2013 |
United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Vahid Edrisi was found guilty by a federal jury earlier today in San Diego of six counts of bank robbery and one count of robbing a pharmacy. The verdicts follow a two-day trial before United States District Judge Larry A. Burns.
The evidence presented at trial showed Edrisi accessing cellular towers in the vicinity of six of the seven robberies committed by Aaron Hyman, dubbed the “Chubby Bandit,” in October 2012. Edrisi himself was captured by video surveillance just prior to one of the robberies, and Edrisi’s black 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible was captured on video surveillance at three of the seven robberies. Hyman entered guilty pleas to seven counts of robbery on January 24, 2013.
The evidence further showed that Edrisi twice fled law enforcement at high rates of speed to avoid capture. Edrisi abandoned the car following the second chase. Inside the car, officers found a hat worn during one of the seven Chubby Bandit robberies. Edrisiwas arrested when he went to the tow yard to attempt to retrieve his car.
The defendants were convicted of robbing:
- $369 from the U.S. Bank, 12265 Scripps Poway Parkway, Poway, California
- Two bottles of Oxycontin, CVS Pharmacy, 191 Woodland Parkway, San Marcos, CA $2,307
- Chase Bank, 7176 Avenida Encinitas, Carlsbad, California
- Attempted Chase Bank, 607 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach, California
- $309, Wells Fargo, 276 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, California
- $1,590 from the U.S. Bank, 770 Carlsbad Village Dr., Carlsbad, California
- $830 from the Wells Fargo, 11986 Bernardo Plaza Dr., San Diego, California
Judge Burns set a sentencing hearing for Edrision June 10, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. Hyman is scheduled for sentencing on April 8, 2013, at 9:30 a.m.
Defendants in Case Number: 12cr5098-LAB
Aaron Alan Hyman
Vahid Edrisi
Summary of Charges
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a)-bank robbery Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a)-bbstruction of interstate commerce by force (Hobbs Act)
Maximum penalties: 20 years for each count
Investigating Agencies
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Carlsbad Police Department
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
San Diego Police Department