PRESS RELEASE

FBI HOUSTON PRESS OFFICE
(713) 693-5229
www.fbi.gov   

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2007

MASKED GUNMAN ROBS BENAVIDES BANK

The FBI Bank Robbery Task Force needs the public’s assistance in identifying the female bank robber being dubbed the “Cell Phone Bandit”.  Investigators believe she has robbed at least two bank in the Houston area in the past several weeks.  The latest robbery occurred at the Washington Mutual Bank located at 4081 W. FM1960, Houston, Texas on Friday June 29, 2007.  Bank surveillance images and witness statements link the “Cell Phone Bandit” to a previous robbery which occurred at the Wells Fargo Bank on June 15, 2007.   During both robberies, the female subject continues to talk on her cell phone while passing demand notes to the tellers. 

During the latest robbery, the “Cell Phone Bandit” held a demand note against the counter which advised the teller she had 100 seconds to turn over $60,000 in cash.  The “Cell Phone Bandit” also threatened they were being watched and the teller would be harmed if she did not turn over the cash.  When the teller told the “Cell Phone Bandit” that she did not have that much money, the robber became very agitated and further threatened the teller.  The bandit then spoke on her cell phone as if an accomplice was on the other end.

The suspect is described as a black female about 28-35 years old, approximately 5’3”, and weighs between 120-130 pounds with a stocky build.  She is described as having a medium brown complexion.  The suspect wore a dark brown wig under a khaki colored baseball cap, a flannel shirt, khaki jeans, and reading glasses. She also had a gold tooth on the top right center of her mouth.  During the previous robbery, the suspect wore a dark red wig, a blue flannel shirt, and blue jeans.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000.00 for information leading to the charging and arrest of the “Cell Phone Bandit”  If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 713-222-8477 or the Houston office of the FBI at 713-693-5000.

The FBI needs the public’s assistance in identifying a masked gunman who robbed the Champion Bank, located at 300 East Main in Benavides, Texas earlier today.  At approximately 10:00AM, the masked gunman walked into the bank with his pistol pointed at bank employees.  With a raised voice, he verbally demanded cash from the bank tellers.  He initially fled the scene on foot, but may have been driving a smaller, silver colored sedan. 

The suspect is described as a white male, possibly Hispanic, approximately 25 to 35 years old and 6’ tall with a medium build.  During the robbery, he wore a long-sleeved light colored shirt, dark pants, dark gloves and a baseball cap.  He was armed with a black pistol and attempted to conceal his identity with a white mask he wore over his face.   He used a black tote bag to carry the cash. 

This suspect should be considered to be armed and dangerous.  If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the Houston office of the FBI at 713-693-5000.

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