San Antonio Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robberies Along I-35

In Austin today, Willie James Cleveland, age 34, plead guilty to bank robberies  he committed earlier this year along the Interstate 35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio announced Acting United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr. and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Division.

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew W. Austin, Cleveland pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery with a dangerous weapon.  By pleading guilty, Cleveland admitted he robbed nine banks between February 2015 and the end of April 2015.  According to court records, Cleveland is responsible for the following bank robberies:

• February 12, 2015 – Woodforest National Bank – 1500 block of N. Loop 1604 East in San Antonio;
• February 18, 2015 – Woodforest National Bank – 9300 block of IH-35 South in Austin;
• February 26, 2015 – Wells Fargo Bank – 1000 block of Texas Highway 80 in San Marcos;
• March 14, 2015 – Wells Fargo Bank – 1200 block IH-35 South in New Braunfels;
• March 16, 2015 – Chase Bank – 5400 block of IH-35 North in Austin;
• March 26, 2015 and April 7, 2015 – Air Force Credit Union – 3100 block of Wurzbach in San Antonio;
• April 16, 2015 – BBVA Compass Bank – 7500 block of Wurzbach in San Antonio; and,
• April 18, 2015 – BBVA Compass Bank – 5700 block of Cameron Road in Austin.

The total amount stolen from all nine bank robberies was in excess of $50,000.00

Cleveland has remained in federal custody since his arrest by San Antonio Police Department Robbery detectives on April 20, 2015.  By pleading guilty, Cleveland agrees to pay restitution for all nine bank robberies as well as restitution for a separate theft of $1,000.  Cleveland faces up to 25 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the two bank robbery counts.

The case resulted from a joint investigation by the FBI, San Antonio Police Department, Austin Police Department, San Marcos Police Department and the New Braunfels Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Galdo and Grant Sparks.

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