EL PASO, TX—The El Paso Police Department (EPPD) and the FBI El Paso Field Office announce the arrest of a 53-year-old transient man, Michael Lee Hornback, for his alleged involvement in the Chase Bank robbery that occurred in El Paso on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.

An off-duty EPPD officer was alerted to the robbery and quickly notified on-duty patrol officers of a male matching the description of Hornback.

Due to the swift action of the EPPD patrol officers, Hornback was taken into custody without incident at a local motel off Dyer Street in Northeast El Paso.

On July 13, 2022, Hornback was charged federally with one count of 18 USC 2113(a) – Bank Robbery and Incidental Crimes.

The extensive investigative work performed by EPPD’s Crimes Against Persons Unit and FBI El Paso led to a quick resolution to this investigation, therefore assuring the community of their safety in their day-to-day activities is a priority for our organizations.

The EPPD and the FBI would like to thank the many community members and local businesses for providing valuable evidence and tips, which assisted in identifying and locating Hornback.

A federal complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. Hornback faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The FBI’s El Paso Violent Crimes Task Force and the El Paso Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit jointly investigated this case with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas.