Albuquerque man appears in court on bank robbery charge

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ronald Lopez, 29, of Albuquerque, made an initial appearance in federal court on March 30 facing a charge of bank robbery. Lopez will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for April 1.

According to a criminal complaint, on March 25, Lopez allegedly entered the Rio Grande Credit Union on Rio Bravo Boulevard in Albuquerque wearing a fur-lined coat and a face mask. Lopez allegedly approached a teller and presented a demand note indicating he had a gun. Lopez then allegedly fled in a silver van.

Later that day, investigators located the van at Lopez’s residence, and Lopez was arrested.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Lopez faces up to 20 years in prison.

The FBI’s Albuquerque Violent Crime and Gang Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito is prosecuting the case.