United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

SERIAL BANK ROBBER ARRESTED

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Casey announced today that Ronald Lee Williams, Jr., who is charged in a federal criminal complaint with bank robbery, was arrested last night without incident at a hotel in Arlington, Texas.

Williams, age 36, made his initial appearance this afternoon in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, before Magistrate Judge Charles Bleil, who ordered that he remain in federal custody pending a probable cause and detention hearing set for Friday morning, October 20, 2006. While the criminal complaint charges Williams with the October 10, 2006, bank robbery of Bank of America, located in the Albertson’s Grocery Store, at 1300 Airport Freeway, in Bedford, Texas, the FBI states that Williams is a suspect in a string of at least 22 bank robberies that began in September 2005 in the Dallas - Fort Worth area and in Austin, San Antonio, and Houston.

Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Dallas Field Office stated, “The arrest of Ronald Lee Williams Jr., known as the "Backpack Bandit" brings to close a bank robbery spree which lasted in excess of one year. The FBI has been working diligently with State and Local law enforcement partners through the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force to identify, locate and capture this serial robber. Dallas acknowledges the assistance of the Arlington and Dallas Police Departments who assisted in last night's arrest of Williams.”

According to the criminal complaint, Williams would target banks located in grocery stores or Walmarts and would show a demand note to the victim tellersdemanding certain denominations of cash. Initially, the robber would place the money from the robberies into a backpack, and was thus given the moniker “Backpack Bandit” by the FBI. More recently however, the robber began showing a demand note, which was contained in a zippered blue bank bag or pencil case with a clear plastic window.

On October 10, 206, Williams entered the Bank of America at approximately 11:45 a.m., approached the teller station, unfolded a zippered blue bank bag showing a clear plastic square containing a note that demanded money. Two tellers took money from their cash drawers and put it on the counter. Williams handed one teller a white plastic grocery sack and both tellers put the money from their cash drawers into the grocery sack. Williams took the sack and walked out of the bank.

Earlier that same day, there was a related “incident” outside the 1st Convenience Bank, located inside the Walmart Neighborhood Store, at 2108 Bedford Road, in Bedford, Texas. That bank had a “Wanted” flyer depicting past surveillance photographs of the Backpack Robber posted on a lighted display in the bank. Customers of the bank and employees of the Walmart noticed the robber (Williams) standing outside of the bank and began to talk between themselves. Williams noticed the commotion and fled from the store.

In response to a flyer that the Austin FBI posted and related media coverage, the Austin FBI received an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers identifying the robber as Ronald Williams. The affidavit filed with the criminal complaint states that Williams was arrested in October 1999 by the Dallas FBI for bank robbery and was subsequently convicted on three counts of bank robbery and sentenced to federal prison. Williams was arrested on March 8, 2006 for a supervised release violation and released on July 7, 2006. The affidavit states that the Backpack Robber did not rob any banks during the period of Williams’ incarceration.

U.S. Attorney praised the excellent investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Arlington, Dallas, Bedford, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston Police Departments. Assistant United States Mark Nichols of the Fort Worth, Texas, United States Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.

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