United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS MAN
ON ARMED BANK ROBBERY AND FIREARMS CHARGES

Defendant Allegedly Robbed Wells Fargo Bank in Lubbock

LUBBOCK, Texas - A federal grand jury returned an indictment late yesterday charging Graciano Pina Quezada, 35, formerly of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with several felony offenses related to the Feb. 21, 2011, armed robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank at 4323 50th Street in Lubbock, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.

Specifically, the indictment charges Quezada with one count of bank robbery; one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm; and one count of possessing a stolen firearm. Quezada has been in custody since his arrest on February 23 on related charges outlined in a federal criminal complaint.

The affidavit filed in support of that complaint states that at approximately 2:20 p.m. on the afternoon of Feb. 21, a man, wearing a dark mask and brandishing a handgun, walked into the bank, went to a teller station and, in a loud voice, demanded money. After receiving money from that teller, he moved to another teller station and pointed his gun at that teller, again demanding money. After receiving money from that teller, the robber grabbed a bank customer, and keeping his gun pointed at her, moved her toward the door. He released her when he left the bank, driving off in a Ford Mustang.

Customers inside the bank called 9-1-1 to report the robbery and the bank alarm was also activated. Law enforcement began pursuing the Ford Mustang almost immediately after the robbery, but the driver attempted to evade the officers by driving erratically, changing directions, running red lights, crossing a grass median, running over a curb and exceeding the speed limit. Eventually, the vehicle came to a stop in Lynn County, Texas, where law enforcement used spike strips to stop it. As the male driver ran from his vehicle, he took off a jacket which was later recovered by law enforcement. The man, identified as Graciano Pina Quezada, ran approximately 100 yards before being apprehended by law enforcement; a handgun and a large amount of currency were found in the car. The jacket he shed while running matched the jacket worn by the robber in bank surveillance photographs.

1 An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted on Count 1, bank robbery, Quezada faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted on Count 2, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This 25-year sentence must run consecutive to any another sentence he receives. If convicted on Count 3, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, or Count 4, possession of a stolen firearm, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lubbock Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise Williams, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lubbock, is in charge of the prosecution.

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