Santa Fe Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank Robbery Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Jacob P. Wheeler, 25, of Santa Fe, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to an armed bank robbery charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Wheeler was arrested on May 26, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with robbing the Century Bank located at 498 N. Guadalupe St. in Santa Fe, on May 15, 2015.  The complaint alleged that Wheeler robbed the bank by pointing a gun at the bank teller, demanding money, and climbing up onto the teller’s counter to grab money from a cash drawer. 
Wheeler became the target of investigation later that day after the FBI received a tip identifying Wheeler as the bank robber.

Wheeler was subsequently indicted on June 24, 2015, and charged with armed bank robbery of the Century Bank located at 498 N. Guadalupe St. in Santa Fe County, N.M., on May 15, 2015.

During today’s plea hearing, Wheeler pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on May 15, 2015, he robbed the Century Bank in Santa Fe through force, violence and intimidation.   At sentencing, Wheeler faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison followed by up to five years of supervised release.  Wheeler remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Santa Fe Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman Cairns.