United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

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

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

FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN DALLAS INDICTS
LOCAL MEN ON BANK ROBBERY AND ARMED BANK ROBBERY CHARGES

DALLAS - A federal grand jury in Dallas has returned four separate indictments charging four defendants in several bank and credit union robberies, or attempted robberies, that occurred recently in the Dallas area, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas.

A six-count indictment charges William Michael Rhodes, 55, of Dallas, with the following bank robberies:

January 4, 2007 Chase Bank
9409 Garland, Dallas, Texas

January 17, 2007 World Savings Bank
6535 Skillman, Dallas, Texas

January 29, 2007 & Compass Bank
February 10, 2007 9090 Skillman, Dallas, Texas

February 17, 2007 Compass Bank
11705 Presto Road, Dallas, Texas

March 5, 2007 First Convenience Bank
536 Centennial Road, Richardson, Texas

Tomas Magro-Mala, 30, who was arrested in Plano, Texas, is charged in a two-count indictment with the February 10, 2007 armed robbery of Century Bank, 3701 Belt Line Road in Addison, Texas. He is charged with one count of bank robbery and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during or in a relation to a crime of violence.

 A four-count indictment charges Reggie Latwain Washington, 29, of Dallas with the robbery of two credit unions:

February 1, 2007 Neighborhood Credit Union
641 Yorktown Street, Dallas, Texas

October 30, 2006 Neighborhood Credit Union
791 West Wheatland Road, Duncanville, Texas

That indictment also charges Washington with the January 10, 2007 robbery of Chase Bank, 900 North Polk Street, Desoto, Texas, and the February 1, 2007 attempted bank robbery of Washington Mutual Bank, 3559 North Beltline Road, Irving, Texas.

Another indictment charges Eric Devon Mathis, of Dallas, with the attempted armed bank robbery, on March 16, 2007, of Washington Mutual Bank and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence.

Each count of bank robbery, or robbery of a credit union, carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of armed bank robbery, or attempted armed bank robbery, carries a maximum statutory sentence of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during, or in relation to, a crime of violence carries a maximum statutory sentence of an additional seven years and a $250,000 fine.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dallas, Desoto, Duncanville, and Richardson, Texas, Police Departments. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and John Kull.

###