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Press Release

Federal Escapee Apprehended in San Antonio -- Charged in Connection with two Austin Bank Robberies

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas

In San Antonio yesterday, local authorities apprehended 37-year-old federal escapee Brian Anthony Whitford announced Acting United States Attorney Richard Durbin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and United States Marshal Robert Almonte.

A federal criminal complaint filed today in Austin charges Whitford with one count of escape and two counts of bank robbery.  According to the complaint, on Monday morning (4.13.15), Whitford escaped from a halfway house in Del Valle, TX, where he was completing his federal sentence for robbing two Austin banks in April 2010.  The complaint alleges that on the same day of his escape, Whitford robbed the Compass Bank located on South Congress Ave. and attempted to rob the Wells Fargo Bank located on Guadalupe Street.  The complaint further alleges that Whitford stole approximately $3,700 from Compass Bank.

According to court records, the Compass Bank and Wells Fargo Bank were the same two financial institutions Whitford was convicted of robbing back in April 2010 and subsequently sentenced to 71 months in federal prison.

Upon conviction, Whitford faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each bank robbery charge and up to five years in federal prison on the escape charge.

This joint investigation was conducted by the FBI and the United States Marshals Service with assistance from the Austin and San Antonio Police Departments.  Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Hoff and Gregg Sofer are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

A criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Updated April 16, 2015

Topic
Violent Crime