Farmers Branch Man Arrested and Charged with Armed Bank Robbery
FBI Says Luis Delagarza is the ‘Mesh Mask Bandit’

DALLAS—Luis Delagarza, 59, of Farmers Branch, Texas, has been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with committing the armed bank robbery of a Wells Fargo Bank in Dallas in April 2013. This afternoon, Delagarza made his initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez, who ordered that he remain in federal custody. A preliminary hearing and motion to detain the defendant will be conducted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas and Diego Rodriguez, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI Dallas Division.

“The identification of the ‘Mesh Mask Bandit’ by the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force was the result of collaborative local and federal investigation across nine cities,” said Diego G. Rodriguez, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Division. “The arrest of this dangerous individual illustrates the effectiveness of task forces, the support provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and cooperation within the law enforcement community.”

According to the complaint and affidavit filed in the case, on April 22, 2013, the FBI was notified that the Wells Fargo Bank branch located at 13297 Josey Lane in Farmers Branch had been robbed by a Hispanic male wearing a disguise and armed with a handgun. When law enforcement arrived at the bank, a special agent with the FBI interviewed a witness who worked in the bank. The witness advised that he/she was at his/her desk when he/she observed a Hispanic male walk past a window, adjacent to his/her desk and head toward the bank’s main entrance. The witness advised that as the man was entering the bank, he/she saw him pull down a mask to cover his face. The witness further noted that as the man entered the bank and approached the bank tellers, he pointed a handgun at them and demanded money. As the bank tellers were scared for their well-being, they complied with the robber’s demands. The witness stated that as the robber was leaving the bank, he removed his mask, and again, this witness saw the robber’s face. This witness later positively identified Delagarza in a photo line-up.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Farmers Branch Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taly Haffar is in charge of the prosecution.