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Press Release

San Antonio Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery

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

In San Antonio today, 51-year-old Edward Mesquiti was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for bank robbery announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ordered that Mesquiti be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term. 

On February 27, 2014, Mesquiti, along with his co-defendant, Jacob Sanchez, age 40, robbed BBVA Compass Bank located on Goliad Road in San Antonio, TX.  According to court records, Sanchez entered the bank with a mask on his face, pulled out a gun, racked it, and pointed the gun at a bank employee while instructing the employee to “get all the money,” and put it in a bag Sanchez provided.  Sanchez fled in a white Tahoe driven by Mesquiti.

San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) responded to the robbery and with the assistance of an SAPD helicopter, officers were able to track the Tahoe and pull the vehicle over.  Officers arrested Sanchez but Mesquiti drove off, ramming the Tahoe into a police cruiser. Mesquiti eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.  SAPD officers apprehended Mesquiti a short time later.  Testimony at trial revealed that two SAPD officers were injured in the course of Mesquiti’s flight.  Mesquiti was on parole for a Bexar County robbery conviction at the time of his arrest for the BBVA Compass Bank robbery.

On May 20, 2015, Sanchez pled guilty to one count of bank robbery and was sentenced on September 23, 2015, to 84 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release after the completion of his sentence.

On July 7, 2015, Mesquiti was found guilty by a jury of one count of bank robbery.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the San Antonio Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wannarka prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

Updated January 14, 2016

Topic
Violent Crime