FBI increases reward for information about serial bank robber

Monday, Aug 16, 2021 6:46 PM Updated Monday, Aug. 16, 2021 6:48 PM

Seven financial institutions have been hit in the last month

FARMINGTON – The FBI increased the reward amount from $2,000 to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of an unidentified bank robber.

The FBI is investigating a bank robbery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is believed to be the seventh bank the suspect has robbed in the last month in New Mexico, according to a news release sent last week by the FBI.

The FBI has sent at least four other releases about the same person robbing different banks. The most recent bank robbery took place at 1:59 p.m. Thursday in Santa Fe at a U.S. Bank branch. The man is described as Native American or Hispanic, about 5 feet 5 inches tall with a medium build. His approximate age, however, is estimated differently on two separate news releases, somewhere between late 20s and early 40s.

This man is suspected of robbing seven banks during the last month in New Mexico, according to the FBI. (Courtesy of FBI)

The man on Thursday presented a “demand note” to a teller who then “handed over an undisclosed amount of money to the suspect,” the release said.

The same suspect is sought in six different robberies in the last month:

Aug. 9 at a Wells Fargo in Santa Fe.

July 30 at a Wells Fargo in Bernalillo.

July 22 at a Wells Fargo in Socorro.

July 19 at a Wells Fargo in Tijeras.

July 19 at a U.S. Bank in Moriarty.

July 15 at a Wells Fargo in Moriarty.

“The FBI is working with our local law enforcement partners to find this individual and bring him to justice," Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda with the Albuquerque FBI Division said in a July 28 release. ”Bank robberies can put innocent employees and customers at risk. We are asking the public to call us if they have any information on this suspect.“

The FBI sent out a release Aug. 9 about a bank robber who matched a similar description, however the FBI did not say in that release whether it was the same suspect. However, in the most recent release, the date and location of the bank in the Aug. 9 release is listed as one of the six previous banks the suspect is wanted for robbing.

Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to contact the FBI at (505) 889-1300, the Santa Fe Police Department at (505) 955-5044, or Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at (505) 843-STOP.

Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

mmitchell@durangoherald.com