Getaway Driver in Takeover-Style Armed Bank Robbery is Sentenced to 140 Months in Federal Prison

LUBBOCK, TX—Gabriel Tenorio, 30, the getaway driver in the May 1, 2013 armed robbery of a Lubbock National Bank, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 140 months in federal prison. A resident of Lubbock, Tenorio has been in custody since his arrest in early June 2013. He pleaded guilty in August 2013 to one count of aggravated bank robbery and aiding and abetting as charged in a superseding indictment. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Tenorio’s co-defendant, Russell Eugene Heath, 44, also of Lubbock, was arrested in August in Calexico, California. He pleaded guilty last month to one count of aggravated bank robbery and aiding and abetting and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 25 years in federal prison on the robbery conviction and at least five years and up to life on the firearm offense. Each count of conviction also each carries a maximum statutory fine of $250,000. A sentencing date has not yet been set for Heath.

According to Tenorio’s factual resume, he and Heath planned and executed the robbery of the Lubbock National Bank located at 4420 19th Street in Lubbock. At approximately 12:45 p.m., Heath, wearing a mask and gloves and carrying what appeared to be a Glock firearm, entered the bank, pointed the firearm at the tellers and began yelling at them to give him money. He jumped over a counter, opened a teller drawer and began stuffing money in his pockets. He then ran from the bank to a waiting vehicle driven by Tenorio. Tenorio and Heath split the proceeds of the robbery.

According to the factual resume filed in Heath’s case, he and Tenoria also robbed the FirstBank Southwest Bank branch located at 5701 SW 34th Street in Amarillo, Texas, on May 20, 2013. In that robbery, Heath entered the bank carrying a short-barreled shotgun, vaulted over the teller counter, and stole money. Heath then ran to the vehicle being driven by Tenoria, and they fled the area.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Lubbock Police Department, the Amarillo Police Department, and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise Williams is in charge of the prosecution.