Odessa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Arson Charge

United States Attorney Robert Pitman announced that in Midland, 64-year-old Jimmie Doyle Farris of Odessa, Texas, was sentenced to six years in federal prison for a series of unexplained fire starts in the Permian Basin last summer.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Robert A. Junell ordered that Farris pay $3,951.40 restitution and be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

According to court documents, during the summer of 2011, the counties of Midland, Ector, Andrews, Winkler, and Crane all experienced roadside fire starts that were unexplained by any possible accidental cause, such as a dragging chain or cigarette. More than a dozen of these fires from April 2011 to June 2011 had one common fact: Jimmie Doyle Farris. The fire marshals in the area became suspicious of Farris when he kept turning up at the scene of various fires. In some cases, Farris was the first to call 911 and report the fire. In other situations, ranchers and firemen personally observed Farris at the scene of the fire when they arrived, though he had no reason to be at those remote locations in the county. In one instance, Farris received a burn injury, was transported to the hospital from the scene, and later interviewed by a local television news crew. In that interview, Farris claimed to be a good Samaritan by traveling around the area and looking for wildfires so that he could quickly notify the fire department.

With suspicions aimed directly at Farris, authorities placed Farris under surveillance. On June 15, 2011, Farris traveled directly from his residence to the rural oilfield of south Midland County where there had been multiple unexplained fire starts in the previous two weeks and where Farris had reported fires and been observed at others. Law enforcement officials observed Farris’ vehicle turn onto an oilfield lease road on the Windham Ranch, and a few minutes later, the nearest officer noticed smoke in the field where Farris had just stopped. Law enforcement descended upon Farris, placed him under arrest, and extinguished the fire before it got any closer to the pumpjack about a hundred feet away.

In April, Farris pleaded guilty to one count of maliciously damaging real property by means of fire. By pleading guilty, Farris admitted responsibility for the June 15, 2011 fire as well as seven other fires in south Midland County and Ector County between May 28, 2011 and June 15, 2011. Each fire was in very close proximity to a pumpjack, tank battery, or oilfield poly line.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texas Forrest Service and the Sheriff’s Departments from the following counties: Midland, Ector, Andrews, Crane, and Winkler. Fire marshals from Midland and Ector Counties also assisted in this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Austin M. Berry prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Robbery of Compass Bank in Houston

Surveillance Photos Released of Suspect Dubbed “Pot Belly Bandit”

The Houston FBI Bank Robbery Task Force is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a bank robber and his accomplice who robbed the Compass Bank located at 10635 Louetta Road in Houston, Texas, earlier today (August 29, 2012).

At approximately 11:10 a.m., the men entered the bank and forcefully demanded money with their guns drawn. The teller gave the men some cash. No one was physically hurt during the robbery.

The first robber was described a black male, mid-20s, 6’0” to 6’2” height, 280 to 300 pounds, with a heavy build and a pot belly. He had a dark complexion. He wore a gray, short-sleeved T-shirt; dark, long pants; white tennis shoes; and a light-colored baseball cap. The second robber was described as a black male, early 20s, 6’0” tall, 180 pounds, and with a slender build. He wore a red and black baseball cap; a white and black bandana around his neck; white, short-sleeved T-shirt; dark shorts; white socks; and tennis shoes.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and arrest of these robbers. If you have information about this case, please call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or the Houston Office of the FBI at 713-693-5000.

Suspect Arrested, Charged in Connection with Robbery of Popular Community Bank in Chicago

A 33-year-old Chicago woman is in federal custody after being arrested in connection with the robbery yesterday of the Popular Community Bank branch at 7181 West Irving Park Road in Chicago. According to court filings, Teshawnda F. Herbert entered the bank around noon, presented a demand note to a teller, and fled on foot after being given money from the teller’s drawer. She was apprehended by alert Chicago Police Department officers shortly after the robbery.

Herbert, of 4009 N. Leamington, Chicago, was charged in a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of bank robbery, a felony offense. She appeared this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney I. Schenkier, at which time she was formally charged and ordered held pending her next court appearance. She is scheduled to be back in court on Friday, August 31.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Robbery of Bank Atlantic Branch in Deerfield Beach

FBI Releases Photographs

The FBI is releasing photographs from a bank robbery that took place today (August 29, 2012) at approximately 1:40 p.m. at the Bank Atlantic branch located at 1299 S Military Trail in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

The robber entered the bank and demanded money from a bank employee. No one was injured. Money was taken, but the amount will not be released at this time.

Anyone with information concerning the identity of this suspect is urged to call the FBI at (305) 944-9101 or Crimestoppers.

Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery Spree

Bank Robber Faces Mandatory Life Imprisonment Based on Prior Convictions

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning, David Michael Bauer, 53, most recently a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pled guilty to a six-count indictment charging him with bank robbery and firearms offenses under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. According to the plea agreement, Bauer faces a mandatory term of life imprisonment because the United States has filed an information charging prior convictions.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Bauer was arrested on August 10, 2010, and charged with robbing three banks between July 21, 2010 and August 10, 2010. Bauer has been in federal custody since that time.

On August 25, 2010, Bauer was indicted and charged with (1) the robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank at 4411 Carlisle Blvd. NE on July 21, 2010; (2) the armed robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank at 4411 Carlisle Blvd. NE on July 31, 2010; (3) the armed robbery of the New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union at 2801 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE on August 10, 2010; (4) using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, namely, the July 31, 2010 bank robbery; (5) using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, namely, the August 10, 2010 bank robbery; and (6) being a felon in possession of a firearm. Proceedings in the case were delayed by competency proceedings.

This morning, Bauer pled guilty to each of the six charges in the indictment. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Bauer is required to make full restitution to the victim banks.

In his plea agreement, Bauer verified that, before July and August 2010, he previously had been convicted of the following offenses: armed robbery in the 2nd Judicial District of the State of New Mexico; bank robbery in Oconee County, South Carolina; burglary in Winter Haven, Florida; escape in Winter Haven, Florida; attempted escape from a state prison in West Palm Beach, Florida; escape in Miami, Florida; and burglary in Dayton Beach, Florida. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the United States will recommend that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons designate the federal correctional institution in Florence, Colorado, as the prison at which Bauer will serve his sentence.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley.