Kidnapper Gets Max For Illegal Possession of a Firearm

LAREDO, Texas – Gerardo Banda Jr., a 26-year-old Laredo resident, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for illegally possessing two handguns that he used to threaten and kidnap another person, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Senior United States District Judge George Kazen handed Banda the maximum sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and further ordered he serve a three-year-term of supervised release after completing his sentence.

Between 2:00-3:00 a.m. on May 9, 2011, Banda drove to the home of his victim. Banda honked his horn until the victim awoke and approached Banda's SUV, at which time Banda pointed two semi-automatic pistols, a Glock Model 31, in .357 Sig caliber and a 9 mm Beretta Model PX4 Storm, at the victim. Banda jumped into the back seat and ordered the victim to drive. After some time driving, the victim noticed Banda was distracted and stopped the SUV in the vicinity of the 1500 and 1600 blocks of Plum Street, jumped out from the driver's side and ran for cover. Banda fired several shots at the victim, but missed.

The victim reported the incident to the Laredo Police Department (LPD) and investigators and agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) attempted to arrest Banda near his home. As the officers approached, Banda fled on foot carrying a woman's handbag, which he dropped during the brief foot pursuit. Officers arrested Banda and discovered the two pistols which he used that morning in the handbag. Each pistol was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition. Investigators also found 12 spent pistol rounds at the scene where the victim escaped, which matched ammunition from one of the two pistols.

In the course of the investigation, officers discovered that Banda had been convicted in 2007 of the state felony crime of aggravated assault. It is a federal crime for convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. Banda pleaded guilty Dec. 12, 2011.

Banda will remain in federal custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun and gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. Since its inception in 2001, approximately $2 billion has been committed to this initiative. This funding is being used to hire new federal and state prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, distribute gun lock safety kits, deter juvenile gun crime and develop and promote community outreach efforts as well as to support other gun and gang violence reduction strategies.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Laredo Police Department and the Webb County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Homero Ramirez..

FBI and Laredo Police Announce “Bandit Shield” Crime Initiative

LAREDO, TX—Armando Fernandez, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), whose territory includes Laredo, TX, and regional law enforcement, announce the implementation of a new regional crime reduction venture, “The Bandit Shield Initiative.”

The Bandit Shield Initiative was developed to reduce bank robberies, and to assist local, state, and federal law enforcement with their robbery investigations. Financial institutions participating in the Bandit Shield Initiative have agreed to implement a variety of “best practices” and other security measures developed to deter robberies in an effort to assist law enforcement. Additionally, participating financial institutions have undertaken other innovative steps as part of this initiative to make their institutions unattractive targets for would-be robbers. Banking institutions in compliance with the Bandit Shield Initiative will be provided with Bandit Shield decals to be affixed to the institution’s doors. Initially, the Bandit Shield Initiative will be implemented in the FBI’s San Antonio Division territory, and it will be considered for broader participation at a later time.

Arrest Made in Laredo Federal Credit Union Robbery

LAREDO, TX—Asael Cruz, 29, of Laredo, Texas, has been arrested by the FBI and the Laredo Police Department (LPD) in connection with the armed bank robbery of the Laredo Federal Credit Union last Friday evening, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today along with Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of the FBI, whose territory includes Laredo, Texas, and LPD Chief Carlos Maldonado. Cruz was arrested without incident Tuesday afternoon and made an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Laredo federal court this morning.

Cruz, a former employee of the credit union, was identified through the investigation conducted by the FBI and LPD.

According to the criminal complaint filed this morning, on Jan. 6, 2012, at approximately 7:08 p.m., an employee of Laredo Federal Credit Union at 1119 Corpus Christi Street exited from the rear door of the bank building where he was confronted by a Hispanic male armed with a handgun. The armed individual allegedly threatened to kill the employee if he called the police, bound his wrists and ankles, taped his mouth shut, and was later left in a storage room.

The robber then guided a female employee to the vault and told her to begin filling the money into a plastic bank bag, according to the complaint. He also allegedly threatened to kill her as well if she did anything stupid. She was later left taped to a chair and the suspect fled with the money. Cruz allegedly left in a truck not belonging to him which was later located in the 800 block of Guatemozin Street, along with a two stacks of U.S. currency bound in Laredo Federal Credit Union bands.

The Laredo Federal Credit Union is a federally insured financial institution.

Nelson and Maldonado wish to thank the Laredo community for their support and cooperation during this investigation.

The case was investigated by the FBI and LPD and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Pimentel.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

FBI and Laredo Police Department Announce $5,000 Reward for Information in Laredo Bank Robbery

LAREDO, TX,—Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), whose territory includes Laredo, Texas, and Chief Carlos Maldonado of the Laredo Police Department (LPD), announced today that the FBI and the Laredo PD are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of an unknown male subject wanted for a bank robbery in Laredo last Friday evening.

On January 6, 2012, at approximately 7:10 p.m., a lone male robbed the Laredo Federal Credit Union located at 1119 Corpus Christi Street, in Laredo, Texas. The subject is described as a Hispanic male, 5’7” in height, slender build, and appearing to be in his 20s. The robber wore a ski mask, baseball cap, blue jeans, and dark clothing. The robber also displayed a black semi-automatic hand gun during the robbery. After being given an undisclosed amount of money, the suspect fled the bank in a stolen pickup truck.

Anyone with information which may aide investigators in apprehending this robber should contact the FBI at the below telephone number. Any and all information received will be kept confidential.

Laredo Police Department Officer Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Term for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Convictions

LAREDO, TX—Laredo Police Department (LPD) officer Orlando Jesus Hale, 28, has been sentenced to almost 25 years in federal prison without parole for drug trafficking and using a firearm during and in relation to the drug trafficking offense, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Hale this morning to 235 months for his conviction of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine between Oct. 15, 2008, and Nov. 30, 2008. He also received a consecutive 60-month prison term for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possessing the firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime in November 2008,, for a total of 295 months, or 24.5 years’ imprisonment. Immediately following today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Alvarez ordered Hale into the custody of the United States Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future. Hale had been free on bond until today’s sentencing hearing.

Hale was convicted following a jury trial in September 2010 of conspiring with another Laredo Police Officer, Pedro Martinez III, to escort cocaine-loaded vehicles through Laredo, Texas using their police-issued radios to monitor Laredo Police Department dispatch traffic during the escort. The firearms conviction is a result of Hale carrying a firearm during a meeting at a hotel in Laredo at which the co-conspirators discussed the details of the planned escorts with each other, and with an FBI undercover agent whom they believed was a drug trafficker.

During the trial, evidence was presented proving that Hale and fellow LPD officer, Pedro Martinez III, met with an FBI undercover agent posing as a drug dealer in a hotel room in Laredo on Nov. 7, 2008. During the recorded meet, Hale and Martinez discussed how the two officers could escort loads of 20 kilograms each of cocaine from south to north Laredo using their personal vehicles and police-issued radios to monitor dispatch traffic.

On Nov. 13, 2008, first Martinez, then Hale, each escorted a load vehicle during afternoon rush-hour traffic. Each vehicle contained 20 kilograms of sham cocaine. On Nov. 25, Hale and Martinez arranged to meet the payoff person in San Antonio, Texas, to receive payment for the protective escort services they had provided. Hale and Martinez each received $1,000 from another undercover agent posing as the organization’s moneyman. Martinez, who pleaded guilty prior to trial, testified against Hale at trial.

In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Hale was order to pay a $2,000 fine and to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon release from prison.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, and Customs Border Protection, with the assistance and cooperation of the LPD. Assistant United States Attorney Roberto F. Ramirez prosecuted the case.