A group of illegal immigrants from South America was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly using construction crew disguises, blowtorches and cellphone jammers, among other “sophisticated tactics,” to rob banks across multiple states of more than $4 million in cash, according to federal prosecutors.
The crew, made up mostly of Chilean nationals, targeted more than 29 banks and credit unions throughout California, Oregon and Washington between May and October, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
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Officials said nine of the 11 individuals charged were arrested last week, and two more were arrested in Washington Oct. 30.
In one incident, prosecutors said the alleged thieves scouted a business next to a Wells Fargo in Modesto, California, broke in at night and cut a hole in the wall to access the bank’s ATMs.
Authorities released pictures of the alleged bank robbery bandits dressed as construction crew workers sporting hard hats, surgical masks and high-visibility safety vests.
In another incident, prosecutors allege, the bandits hit a bank in Fall River Mills, California. They allegedly used blowtorches, saws and other power tools to access the bank and its interior vaults. The alleged bandits were interrupted and took off, leaving some of their tools behind.
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Talbert named the illegal immigrants as:
- Alex Moyano Morales, 24, of Chile
- Maite Celis Silva, 26, of Chile
- Erik Osorio Olivarez, 20, of Chile
- Pablo Valdez Rodriguez, 36, a Chilean national
- Rosa Bastias Serra, 42, of Chile
- Camilo Sepulveda Guzman, 31, of Peru
- Bassil Dacosta Frias, 34, of Venezuela
- Camilo Alarcon Alarcon, 23, of Chile
- Michelle Parada Munoz, 21, of Chile
- Alvaro Lagos Mieres, 44, of Chile
- Humberto Jimenez Moreno, 45, of Chile
Talbert added that all the defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery, while Moyano, Celis, Osorio, Valdez, Bastias, Sepulveda, Lagos and Jimenez are additionally charged with bank robbery.
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If convicted, Talbert said, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for bank robbery and five years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank robbery.
* Original Article:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/group-illegals-used-blowtorches-cellphone-jammers-disguises-rob-banks-across-multiple-states-feds.amp
