Salinas Gang Member Sentenced To Over Nine Years In Prison For Multiple Bank Robberies

SAN FRANCISCO – Francisco Javier Marmolejo, aka “Blindy,” was sentenced to 114 months in prison today for robbing and conspiring to rob three San Francisco Bay Area banks, announced Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.  The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Lucy H. Koh, United States District Judge, following Marmolejo’s guilty plea to the bank robbery on January 5, 2018. 

According to the plea agreement, Marmolejo, 36, of Salinas admitted robbing Bay Area banks on three occasions between November of 2011 and January of 2012.  Marmolejo admitted that on November 9, 2011, together with others, he robbed a bank in Pacific Grove, Calif.  Marmolejo admitted that at least one of the robbers brandished a firearm and that he was the getaway driver while his fellow robbers went inside the bank to rob it. On that occasion, Marmolejo and his fellow robbers stole approximately $18,383.00 from the bank.  Further, on December 2, 2011, Marmolejo, together with others, robbed a bank in Seaside, Calif.  Marmolejo acknowledged that on that occasion, he brandished a firearm during the robbery.  Finally, on January 19, 2012, Marmolejo, together with others, robbed a bank in Salinas, Calif., during which one of the robbers brandished a gun.

In addition to the three robberies in which Marmolejo admitted he participated, he also admitted that in March of 2012, he possessed three semi-automatic handguns, bear repellant, three ballistic vests, three ski masks, and other items all of which were used and intended to be used during the commission of bank robberies and to avoid detection by law enforcement.

On January 3, 2018, Marmolejo was charged by superseding information with one count of conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § § 2113(a) and (d), and 371; one count of armed bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § § 2113(a) and (2) and 2; and one count of use or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § § 924(c)(1)(A) and 2.  Pursuant to his plea agreement, Marmolejo pleaded guilty to all counts in the superseding information.  Marmolejo was originally indicted on some of these charges on November 8, 2016.  On December 18, 2017, Marmolejo’s co-defendant Jorge Lopez, aka “Cowboy,” pleaded guilty to the same charges.  Judge Koh scheduled Lopez’s sentencing for July 11, 2018.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Koh also ordered Marmolejo to pay restitution in the amount of $52,854.00 and to serve five years of supervised release to begin after his prison term.  Marmolejo currently is in state custody serving a 12-year prison sentence, part of which will be credited to his federal term.  Upon his release from state custody, Marmolejo will have approximately 104 months remaining on his federal sentence.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia A. Quiroz with the assistance of paralegal Jessica Meegan and legal assistant Lance Libatique.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.