Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison

PHOENIX, AZ—On June 24, 2013, Walter David Garcia, ­23, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison by District Judge Neil V. Wake, stemming from his commission of multiple bank robberies in Phoenix, Sun City, and Surprise. Garcia previously pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery, two counts of armed bank robbery, and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to Garcia’s plea agreement, he committed seven bank robberies from August 1, 2011 through April 12, 2012. Garcia brandished a handgun during one of the robberies and also committed carjackings in connection with two of the bank robberies. He was dubbed the “Home Town Bandit” due to his affinity for wearing local sports team paraphernalia when committing the robberies.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and its Bank Robbery Task Force, as well as the Surprise Police Department. The Bank Robbery Task Force is a partnership of FBI, the Phoenix Police Department, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Mesa Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, whose focus is to investigate and apprehend bank robbers in the Phoenix metropolitan area. More information on the Bank Robbery Task Force can be found at www.bandittrackerarizona.com. The prosecution was handled by Christine D. Keller and Alison Bachus, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.