FBI San Diego
Media Coordinator
(858) 320-1800 | SDPublicAffairs@fbi.gov
May 1, 2015

Bank Teller and Accomplice Arrested and Charged with Bank Robbery

Miriam Warda Kaskorkis, age 21 and Lorens Rafou, age 29, have been arrested and charged via a federal complaint with bank robbery and conspiracy announced FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric S. Birnbaum and San Diego Chief of Police Shelley Zimmerman. The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bank Robbery Task Force (BRTF) concerning the robbery of a U.S. Bank branch that occurred on Friday, April 24, 2015.

According to the complaint, on Friday, April 24, 2015, at approximately 11:51 a.m., the U.S. Bank, located at 4195 Genesee Avenue, San Diego, California, was robbed by an unknown male, later identified as Lorens Rafou. According to the complaint, Lorens Rafou entered the U.S. Bank, and presented a demand note to Miriam Warda Kaskorkis who was employed as a teller at the bank. After receiving a sum of money from Miriam Warda Kaskorkis, Rafou exited the bank and was observed driving away from the bank.

Following the robbery, information concerning the robbery was provided to local media to include bank surveillance photographs. Additionally, law enforcement bulletins were disseminated by FBI agents and San Diego Police Department detectives.

Subsequent investigation including information generated from news releases, law enforcement bulletins and interviews resulted in the arrest of Lorens Rafou, on Saturday, April 25, 2015, and the arrest of Miriam Warda Kaskorkis, on Monday, April 27, 2015.

On Monday, April 27, 2015, a federal complaint was filed with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, case number 15MJ1315, charging Kaskorkis and Rafou, with violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2113(a) and 2, Bank Robbery and Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 Conspiracy.

On Thursday, April 30, 2015, Rafou had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge, Ruben B. Brooks. Kaskorski’s initial appearance has not been set at this time. Both defendants remain in custody at this time.

Anyone with information concerning this bank robbery is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 320-1800 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 540-8477.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California, San Diego, California.

An arrest and the filing of a complaint are not evidence the defendants committed the crimes charge. The defendants are presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.