ALBUQUERQUE—This morning in federal
court, Steven Bernardoni, 49, of Albuquerque, pled guilty to an indictment
charging him with armed bank robbery under a plea agreement with the U.S.
Attorney’s Office. At sentencing, Bernardoni faces a maximum penalty of 25
years of imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Bernardoni has been in federal custody since his arrest on Nov. 7, 2011, and
remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has not yet been set.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said
that Bernardoni pled guilty to robbing the Bank of Albuquerque (Bank) located
at 3901 Southern Blvd., Rio Rancho, N.M., on Nov. 4, 2011. According to the
criminal complaint, Bernardoni walked into the bank, vaulted the teller counter
and entered the secure area, pointed a handgun at the tellers and verbally
demanded money. The tellers complied and Bernardoni vaulted the teller counter
and exited the Bank.
Rio Rancho Police Officers immediately
arrived on scene and observed a male subject fitting the description of the
robber exit the Bank, carrying a light colored cloth bag that was covered in
dye material. After a brief foot chase, the subject was taken into custody and
later identified as Steven Bernardoni. Bernardoni was transported to the FBI’s
Albuquerque office, where he confessed to robbing the Bank.
In his plea agreement, Bernardoni
admitted robbing the Bank by brandishing a firearm and intimidating three bank
tellers into giving him a large amount of currency. Under the terms of his plea
agreement, Bernardoni is required to pay full restitution to the Bank.
The case was investigated by the FBI and
the Rio Rancho Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S.
Attorney Charles L. Barth.
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