North Miami Man Arrested and Charged in Bank Robbery

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced that Dasniel Barrera, 35, of North Miami, was arrested without incident yesterday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with a bank robbery.

Today, Barrera was charged in a criminal complaint with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a). Barrera made his initial appearance in court this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry S. Seltzer. A pre-trial detention hearing has been scheduled for June 24, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on June 10, 2011, Barrera entered the Bank of America located on West Dixie Highway, North Miami, wearing sunglasses. Barrera approached a teller and presented a note that indicated this was a robbery and also told the teller that this was a bank robbery and demanded cash. When the teller did not comply quickly, Barrera retrieved the note he had presented to the teller and fled on foot from the bank.

Later that same day, June 10, 2011, Barrera entered a Bank Atlantic branch, located on east Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. Barrera approached a teller and presented a note that said, “this is a robbery.” Barrera robbed the bank and fled on foot with the cash.

Subsequently, on June 15, 2011, Barrera entered a Bank of America branch located on North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Again, Barrera approached a teller and presented a note that said, “this is a robbery.” He then demanded currency in denominations of 100s and 50s. When the teller informed him that she did not have currency in those denominations, he left the bank on foot.

On June 16, 2011, law enforcement received an anonymous tip from an individual who had seen television coverage of the above-described robbery and attempted robberies. This individual identified Barrera as the person who had committed the robberies. Further investigation confirmed that Barrera was the individual engaged in the robberies and attempted robberies at the Bank of America and Bank Atlantic branches. Barrera was arrested on June 16, 2011.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the South Florida Violent Crimes Task Force for their work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Linder.

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 http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.