Volusia County Bank Robber Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

ORLANDO—Chief United States District Judge Anne C. Conway today sentenced Ralph Brooks Rivera (58, Holly Hill) to 20 years in federal prison for four counts of robbery of a federally insured financial institution. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Rivera to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution to the victims of his crimes. Rivera pleaded to the charges in May 2012.

According to the plea agreement, between September 26, 2011 and December 27, 2011, Rivera robbed branches of Wells Fargo Bank, TD Bank, SunTrust Bank, and Space Coast Credit Union in Volusia County. In each of the robberies, Rivera implied that he had a firearm and demanded money. Fearing for their safety, bank employees complied with his demands. In total, Rivera obtained approximately $9,468 from the four federally insured financial institutions.

After bank employees identified Rivera from photographic lineups, he was arrested by local investigators. When subsequently interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rivera admitted that he had committed the four Volusia County robberies and another in Georgia. He also acknowledged that he had threatened the lives of the tellers by telling them that he would kill them unless they complied with his demands. Rivera further admitted that he previously had been convicted of multiple bank robberies.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Port Orange, Daytona Beach, and Ormond Beach Police Departments. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.