The FBI is increasing a reward to up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man suspected of robbing the Wells Fargo bank in Socorro and six other banks in New Mexico.

According to an email from the FBI, an unidentified man on Thursday, Aug. 12 robbed a U.S. Bank branch in Santa Fe, possibly the seventh New Mexico bank this individual has robbed in a month.

The FBI  increased the reward from $2,000 to $5,000 on Thursday.

The description of the suspect in Thursday’s Santa Fe robbery is consistent with the Wells Fargo robbery in Socorro, described as Native American or Hispanic in his late 20s or early 30s, approximately 5’5″ tall, with a medium build.

He wore a light-colored mask over the lower half of his face, eyeglasses with a dark frame, a dark baseball cap, a blue two-tone T-shirt over a long-sleeve gray shirt, and light-colored pants.

He may also have a tattoo under his right eye.

In addition to the latest Santa Fe robbery and Socorro robbery, the FBI and local law enforcement are investigating five other bank robberies this individual may have committed:

August 9: Wells Fargo, 545 West Cordova Road, Santa Fe.

July 30: Wells Fargo, 239 West Highway 550, Bernalillo.

July 19: Wells Fargo, 503 NM-333, Tijeras.

July 19: U.S. Bank, 1401 U.S. Route 66, Moriarty.

July 15: Wells Fargo, 901 U.S. Route 66, Moriarty.

The total amount taken in these robberies remains undisclosed.

Bank robbery carries a possible prison term of up to 20 years. The use of a gun, other dangerous weapons, toy gun, or hoax bomb device during the commission of a bank robbery can be punishable by a prison term of up to 25 years.

Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact the FBI at (505) 889-1300, or the Santa Fe Police Department at (505) 955-5044.

Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

El Defensor Chieftain