Two Men and Bank Employee Arrested in West Palm Beach Bank Robbery

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office; and Delsa Bush, Chief, West Palm Beach Police Department, announced the arrest of defendants Clifford S. Davis, 30, Juan Gabriel Mercardo, 29, and Barbara Hauck, 24, all of West Palm Beach, Florida, on bank robbery and carjacking charges.

More specifically, Mercardo is charged in a criminal complaint with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(d), and with the use of a firearm in the commission of a bank robbery, in violation of title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), and carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119. Hauck is charged in a criminal complaint with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(d), and with the use of a firearm in the commission of a bank robbery, in violation of title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Davis was charged in a separate criminal complaint with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(d), and with the use of a firearm in the commission of a bank robbery, in violation of title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), and car jacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119. If convicted, each defendant faces maximum statutory term of imprisonment of up to 25 years on the bank robbery charge, a seven-year consecutive sentence of incarceration on the use of the firearm charge, and up to 15 years’ incarceration as to the carjacking charge.

According to the affidavits filed in support of the criminal complaints, on September 14, 2010, defendants Davis and Mercardo entered Chase Bank, on

Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida

, and robbed the bank. Mercardo opened the door of the bank while Davis drove a black motorcycle into the lobby of the bank. Once inside the lobby, Mercardo forced bank employees to open the vault. During the robbery, Davis was allegedly armed with a handgun. Davis allegedly struck both bank employees and forcibly pushed them to the ground. Davis and Mercardo stole approximately $144,000 in U.S. currency and drove out of the bank on the motorcycle.

After fleeing the bank, Davis and Mercardo crashed their motorcycle into a truck. The defendants then car-jacked the driver of a 2005 Toyota Corolla, forcing the driver from the vehicle at gunpoint.

Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Davis, Mercardo, and Hauck. At the time of his arrest, Davis provided information that led to the identification of Mercardo and Hauck as his accomplices. According to the complaint, Hauck was the assistant bank manager and girlfriend of Mercardo, and allegedly provided information to Davis and Mercardo before the robbery about a large deposit expected on the morning of September 14, 2010. She also gave Davis instructions regarding how the door locks in the bank operated.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and West Palm Beach Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Cohen.

A complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.