Rio Rancho Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Bank in Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE – Joshua Abeyta, 23, of Rio Rancho, N.M., pled guilty in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 19, 2016, to a bank robbery charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

Abeyta was arrested on Oct. 19, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with robbing the Santa Fe Federal Credit Bank located at 7101 Jefferson St. NE in Albuquerque, earlier in the day.  The complaint alleges that Abeyta robbed the bank by handing a handwritten note with a robbery demand to a bank teller.  The teller complied with Abeyta’s written and verbal robbery demands and handed money over to Abeyta.  Abeyta left the scene on foot and was pursued by customers of the bank before being arrested by an Albuquerque Police Department officer.  Abeyta was subsequently indicted on the same charge on Nov. 17, 2015.

On Aug. 19, 2016, Abeyta entered a guilty plea to the indictment, and admitted to robbing the Santa Fe Federal Credit Union in Albuquerque on Oct. 19, 2015.  At sentencing, Abeyta faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.  He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which is currently scheduled for Nov. 17, 2016.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case.