Female Bank Robber Faces Federal Charge

LUBBOCK, Texas — Starlene Delacruz, 31, of Lubbock, Texas, has been charged in a federal complaint with robbing the Prosperity Bank on University Avenue in Lubbock on Friday, March 13, 2015, announced John Parker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Delacruz, who is in custody, made her initial appearance in federal court this afternoon in Lubbock, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy M. Koenig.

According to the complaint filed, on March 13, 2015, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the Prosperity Bank located at 8232 University Avenue in Lubbock was robbed by a female wearing a white knit shirt, blue jeans and sunglasses. The robber, later identified as Delacruz, approached one of the tellers and placed a straw woven purse on top of the counter. Delacruz then stated, “I don’t want to freak anybody out, but my dad is waiting and if we don’t fill this up with all your money, then there are bombs and this will all blow up.” In response, the teller placed funds from her till into Delacruz’s bag. Delacruz then left the bank.

Following the robbery, an image of the bank robber, taken from video surveillance at the bank, was released to the media. An employee of Damron Motorcycle Company, located on South Loop 289 in Lubbock saw the released image at approximately 4:45 p.m. that afternoon. At approximately 5:05 p.m., a woman entered the dealership, and an employee thought she matched the image of the individual who had robbed the bank that morning. The employee contacted the Lubbock Police Department who dispatched officers to the dealership, where Delacruz was arrested.

A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. If convicted of this offense, however, Delacruz faces a maximum statutory penalty of not more than 20 years in federal prison, and a $250,000 fine. The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.

The FBI and the Lubbock Police Department are investigating. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag is in charge of the prosecution.