Posted on 06/22/2013 3:54:39 PM PDT by reaganaut1
An immigrant rights activist from Farmers Branch is suspected of being a prolific bank robber known as the Mesh Mask Bandit, the FBI says.
Luis de la Garza, 59, appeared in federal court Friday in connection with the armed robbery of a Wells Fargo bank in April. Authorities believe he has robbed at least 18 other banks in nine area cities.
De la Garza, who is in federal custody, could not be reached for comment, but his wife, Blanca Estrada, confirmed he had been charged. She said the allegations were a “shock and a surprise.”
“I have no idea where he is, and I am trying to locate him,” she said. “I have no answers, either.”
Authorities say the series of robberies committed by a man wearing a dark mesh mask began with the Dec. 31 holdup at a BBVA Compass branch on West Northwest Highway near Bachman Lake.
A break in the investigation came with the April 22 robbery of a Wells Fargo bank branch on Josey Lane in Farmers Branch.
In that robbery, a witness saw a man walk by a window and head toward the bank’s entrance.
As the man entered, he covered his face with a mask, pointed a handgun at tellers and demanded money. He removed the mask as he left the bank.
The witness who saw the man without his mask before and after the robbery helped authorities with a sketch that the FBI circulated in May. A $20,000 reward was offered in connection with the man’s capture after he was suspected of robbing banks in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties.
The witness at the Wells Fargo bank later identified de la Garza in a lineup, officials said. In recent years, de la Garza has faced various legal problems.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Not surprising, really. And quite simple actually: the “undocumented worker” just decided to make an “undocumented withdrawal”. That’s all.
So he made a few undocumented withdraws. Its not like he told us the government was spying on us or anything.
Just good, hard working people robbing banks Americans won’t rob.....
An immigrant rights activist from Farmers Branch is suspected of being a prolific bank robber known as the Mesh Mask Bandit...One bad apple /s
Sorry if this is racist but how come so many of these husbands and wives have different names? Are they really married or just like to pretend?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.