Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Phoenix-Area Bank Robber Arrested and Charged

PHOENIX—A federal grand jury has returned a 16-count indictment against Cristian Alfredo Urquijo, 39, of Calif., for bank robbery, armed bank robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. Urquijo was charged for his role in 12 bank robberies, from September 2010 through July 2011, during which he was dubbed the “black binder bandit” for his possession of a black binder during a majority of the robberies. Urquijo has been detained pending trial by order of the Court; his arraignment is set for August 31, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge James F. Metcalf.

A conviction for bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. A conviction for armed bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of up to 35 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. A conviction for the use of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the assigned judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force, which includes the FBI, Phoenix Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and Mesa Police Department. The Gilbert Police Department made the arrest. The prosecution is being handled by Tracy Van Buskirk and Melissa Karlen, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-11-1624-PHX-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2011-184(Urquijo)

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