Homestead Man Arrested and Charged in Two Bank Robberies
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 20, 2010 |
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced today that Alexis Fuentes, 39, of Homestead, was arrested without incident yesterday evening by the South Florida Violent Crimes Task Force in connection with two bank robberies. This morning, Price was charged in a criminal complaint with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a).
Fuentes made his initial appearance in court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres. A pre-trial detention hearing has been scheduled for October 25, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrea M. Simonton.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, the first bank robbery occurred at approximately noon on Friday, October 8, 2010, at a Chase Bank branch on S.W. 22nd Street in Miami. Fuentes, wearing sunglasses, allegedly entered the bank, approached a teller, and handed the teller a note demanding money in denominations of $20, $50, and $100. The note also warned the teller that Fuentes had a gun and advised the teller not to “be a hero” or trigger any alarms. Fuentes stole approximately $4,956 and then left the bank.
The second bank robbery took place at approximately 12:50 p.m. on Friday, October 15, 2010, at a Wachovia Bank branch on Bird Road in Miami. According to the criminal complaint, Fuentes, wearing sunglasses and a black shirt, entered the bank, approached a teller, and gave the teller a demand note. The note instructed the teller to hand over money in denominations of $20, $50, and $100, and again warned the teller not “to be a hero” and that he had a “gun ready to use.” Fuentes stole approximately $3,130.
According to the complaint, fingerprints recovered from the two demand notes matched fingerprints for Fuentes, leading to Fuentes’ arrest.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the South Florida Violent Crimes Task Force. The Violent Crimes Task Force includes officers and agents from the FBI, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and members of the City of Miami, City of Miami Beach, Doral, Hialeah, Miami-Dade, and Miramar Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia S. Choe.
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.