Fourth Person Arrested in West Palm Beach Bank Robbery
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 21, 2010 |
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office; and Delsa Bush, Chief, West Palm Beach Police Department, announced the arrest of defendant Abraham Figueroa, 32, of West Palm Beach, Florida, on bank robbery charges. A pre-trail detention hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 22, 2010 before U.S. magistrate Judge Linnea Johnson.
More specifically, Figueroa is charged in a criminal complaint with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(d), and with the use of a firearm in the commission of a bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum statutory term of imprisonment of up to 25 years on the bank robbery charge and a seven-year consecutive sentence on the use of the firearm charge.
According to the affidavits filed in support of the criminal complaint, on September 14, 2010, co-defendants Clifford S. Davis, 30, and Juan Gabriel Mercardo, 29, entered Chase Bank, on Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida, and robbed the bank. Mercardo opened the door of the bank while Davis drove a black motorcycle into the lobby of the bank. Once inside the lobby, Mercardo forced bank employees to open the vault. During the robbery, Davis was allegedly armed with a handgun. Davis allegedly struck both bank employees and forcibly pushed them to the ground. Davis and Mercardo stole approximately $144,000 in U.S. currency and drove out of the bank on the motorcycle.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Figueroa received $1000 from Mercado for disposing of the helmets, clothing, and motorcycle license plate used during the robbery.
Defendants Davis, Mercardo, and Barbara Hauck, 24, all of West Palm Beach, Florida, were previously charged for their roles in this bank robbery. According to the complaint affidavits filed in their case, Hauck was the assistant bank manager and girlfriend of Mercardo, and allegedly provided information to Davis and Mercardo before the robbery about a large deposit expected on the morning of September 14, 2010. She also gave Davis instructions regarding how the door locks in the bank operated.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and West Palm Beach Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Cohen.
A complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.