Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery Offense

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning in federal court in Albuquerque, Johnny Eldrid Ortiz, 34, entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with bank robbery under a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office. At sentencing, Ortiz, an Albuquerque resident, faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum $250,000 fine. Ortiz has been in federal custody since November 12, 2010 and will remain detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Ortiz pled guilty to robbing the Wells Fargo Bank located at

6000 Menaul Blvd. NE

in Albuquerque (bank) on January 4, 2010. According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, the bank was robbed at approximately 3:45 p.m. by a man who presented a demand note to a teller. After obtaining money from the teller, the bank robber fled from the bank on foot. After the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Albuquerque Police Department (APD) received a number of tips identifying Ortiz as the bank robber, two witnesses identified Ortiz as the robber from a photo array. Also, on September 1, 2010, the FBI received a tip from a person who reported that Ortiz had confessed to robbing the bank. Based on this information, the FBI obtained an arrest warrant for Ortiz.

During this morning’s hearing, Ortiz admitted robbing the bank. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Ortiz is required to pay full restitution to the bank.

The case was investigated by the FBI and APD and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Louis E. Valencia.