NEW ORLEANS—FBI New Orleans Field Office Special Agent in Charge Bryan Vorndran announces the arrest and charging via federal complaint of Byron Watson, for his alleged involvement in two bank robberies in southeast Louisiana.

The first robbery with which Watson is charged occurred on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at Total Choice Federal Credit Union located at 100 Palmetto Drive in La Place, Louisiana. The second robbery with which Watson is charged occurred on Thursday, September 26, 2019, at Fidelity Bank at 9099 Jefferson Highway in Jefferson, Louisiana. During both robberies, Watson approached the teller counter and demanded money. After receiving an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency, Watson fled the bank in a white pickup truck.

Watson, age 30 and a resident of Orleans Parish, was taken into custody without incident on Friday, September 27, 2019, at approximately 1:03 p.m. in Orleans Parish through a cooperative effort between the FBI’s New Orleans Violent Crime Task Force (NOVCTF), Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Watson was transported to the St. Bernard Parish jail and charged with two counts of 18 U.S.C. 2113(a) – Bank Robbery.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana is prosecuting this matter.

The public is reminded that criminal complaints, such as this, contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The public can visit bankrobbers.fbi.gov for further information about suspects wanted for bank robbery.