SD U-T
Farhad Farhbaksh
Posted on 09/28/2005 6:34:53 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN DIEGO – A man suspected of being the "FedEx Bandit," so dubbed because he allegedly used an envelope from the delivery company to stash money during numerous holdups, pleaded innocent Wednesday to 32 counts of bank robbery.
Farzad Farhbaksh, a 40-year-old Iranian national who also has used the names Farzad Naroii and Ernest Lozano, was ordered held on $5 million bail.
Deputy District Attorney George Bennett asked for bail to be set at $1 million, but Judge David Szumowski said that amount was too low and announced the higher figure.
In addition to the 32 holdups in San Diego County, Farhbaksh is accused of robbing a half-dozen banks in Los Angeles and Orange counties over the past year-and-a-half, Bennett told the judge.
Farhbaksh, who was detained at a border pedestrian crossing at 1:45 p.m. Monday, allegedly confessed to a higher amount – 43 – over a two-year period after five hours of questioning, FBI Special Agent Darrell Foxworth said earlier.
Authorities believe he netted close to $300,000 in the holdups.
The series of robberies attributed to the "FedEx Bandit" began in September 2003 and frustrated investigators, who had little physical evidence and witness information to go on, said San Diego police Lt. Mike Angus.
Investigators got the break they needed in June, when Farhbaksh allegedly left a cell phone behind after holding up a California Bank & Trust branch on Via de la Valle in San Diego.
The phone was traced to an Ernest Lozano, one of the defendant's alleged aliases, Foxworth said.
The robbery series was the longest locally in seven years, Foxworth said, adding that the defendant's first alleged San Diego area holdup was in Del Mar in May 2004.
Crime Stoppers began offering rewards last November for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Angus said it was unknown where Farhbaksh lived, but he appeared to go back and forth across the border.
The defendant first came to the United States on a student visa, but has been in the country illegally since his permit expired, authorities said.
Szumowski set a bail review and status hearing for Oct. 6 and a preliminary hearing for Oct. 12.
Farhad Farhbaksh
Just robbing the banks Americans won't rob.
I wonder how many cells in Mexico he was supporting?
Don't talk about that. You will make the Presidents Border Plan look bad!
He'll be part of the "Amnesty" plan.
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