Two Men Indicted On Bank Robbery Charges

CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Waqar Ghumman, 27, and Mohsin Zamir, 31, with bank robbery, entering a bank with intent to commit a larceny, and bank larceny. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 25 years and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Adler, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, on January 8, 2016, the defendants robbed the Evans Bank located at 2800 Niagara Falls Boulevard in Tonawanda, NY. Ghumman and Zamir were aided by Nicholas Graham who drove the individuals to the bank in a 2007 Infiniti around 5:45 p.m. Graham remained in the vehicle and acted as both the lookout and the getaway driver.

During the robbery, Ghumman and Zamir were masked and wore nearly identical uniforms including dark tan jackets with hoods, dark colored baseball caps, dark colored masks, and tan pants. Once inside the bank, the defendants aimed BB guns, that appeared to be real pistols, at customers and employees telling them “get down on the ground and no one gets hurt,” “everyone wants to go home tonight,” “hands where I can see them,” and “don’t look at me.”

Following the robbery, law enforcement officers tracked Ghumman, Zamir, and Graham to the Scottish Inn Motel on Niagara Falls Boulevard. Officers found items at the motel including cash, clothing worn by the robbers, the BB guns, receipts for the purchase of the guns, and several identification cards.

Graham was detained at the motel, while Ghumman and Zamir fled. Graham was convicted and will be sentenced on April 20, 2016. Law enforcement officers continue to search for Ghumman and Zamir.

Today’s indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jerome C. Uschold.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

# # # #