Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts in Houston, Texas

June 29, 2007

ROBBER OF INTERNATIONAL BANK IN EDINBURG CONVICTED

(McALLEN, TX) Francisco Torres, Jr. has been convicted of robbing the InterNational Bank in Edinberg, TX, United States Attorney Don.DeGabrielle, Jr. announced today.

Torres, 32, of Canyon Lake, Texas pleaded guilty to the single count indictment which accused him of robbing the Inter National Bank in Edinberg on March 27, 2007 and jeopardizing the lives of bank employees by using a “Molotov cocktail” during the robbery.

Today, Torres admitted that on March 27, 2007 he entered the Inter National Bank branch located in Edinburg, Texas, approached a teller and produced a “Molotov cocktail” and a note. The note read “no police no alarms give me the money in the drawer o we all burn you.” The teller complied with the demand and provided $3196 in cash to Torres, who then fled the bank. The Edinburg, Texas Police Department was notified of the robbery and began a pursuit of Torres’s vehicle. At one point during the pursuit, Torres stopped and appeared to be exiting his vehicle, but instead he accelerated towards an officer, who to defend himself fired his service pistol deflating one of Torres’s tires. Torres fled the scene and drove onto the University of Texas-Pan American campus where he abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. Torres was captured after a short foot pursuit.

At the time of his capture, Torres had the stolen money and the bank robbery note in this pocket. The “Molotov cocktail” used by Torres during the robbery was seized and found to be a functioning incendiary device.

Torres has been in federal custody since the time of his arrest and will remain in custody pending his sentencing scheduled to occur on September 19, 2007. Torres faces a maximum punishment of twenty-five (25) years in federal prison, without parole, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
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