Category: FBI

MCALLEN, TX—A federal fugitive sentenced to life in prison for his role in a hostage-taking conspiracy has been returned to the United States after his capture in Mexico by Mexican authorities. Luis Gerardo Betancourt, previously residing in Pharr, Texas, was apprehended by Mexican authorities in October 2017 and returned to the United States at the Columbia Port of Entry, Laredo, Texas late in the evening on Friday, February 2.

Following a five-day trial, on March 30, 2017 a federal jury sitting in McAllen convicted Betancourt, in absentia, of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens.

On July 12, 2017 , U.S. District Judge Randy Crane, who presided over the trial, sentenced Betancourt to life in federal prison for conspiracy to commit hostage taking and 10 years for conspiracy to transport aliens.

“The apprehension and return of the defendant highlights the outstanding law enforcement collaboration among agencies in the United States and Mexico, and demonstrates the bilateral tenacity involved with bringing those who threaten our communities to justice,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

The fugitive investigation was conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Mexican law enforcmeent authorities were instrumental in the apprehension and return of the defendant to the United States.

The FBI and the Curry County Sheriff’s Office are asking for the public’s help in locating Lucas Randall DeYoung of Brookings, Oregon. On February 1, 2018, the FBI obtained a federal fugitive warrant charging DeYoung, age 36, with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. The Curry County Sheriff’s Office had previously charged DeYoung with attempted aggravated murder, attempted murder, delivery of a controlled substance, and unlawful manufacture of marijuana in relation to the shooting of a Curry County man on December 28, 2017.

The FBI has posted DeYoung’s FBI Wanted flyer at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/additional/lucas-randall-deyoung. The FBI is also running Facebook ads featuring the fugitive hunt for DeYoung in Oregon, Washington, Virginia, and Nevada.

DeYoung is described as:

• Race: White man
• Eyes: Brown
• Hair: Brown
• Height: 6’1″
• Weight: 190 pounds
• Other: Scar on his left finger and tattoos on his back and right shoulder

DeYoung is a known to use illegal drugs and carry firearms. He is also a known gambler. DeYoung may have travelled to the Mason County/Thurston County areas of Washington State, Virginia, or Las Vegas, Nevada.

He should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about DeYoung’s location should contact their local FBI office or submit a tip via https://tips.fbi.gov. In Oregon, call the FBI in Medford at (541) 773-2942, the FBI in Portland at (503) 224-4181 or the Curry County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 247-3243.

UPDATE—Nilsa Marie Urena, age 25, has been taken into custody in Tennessee. Urena was arrested shortly after she robbed the Upper Cumberland Federal Credit Union near Nashville at about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2018.

ATLANTA—David J. LeValley, special agent in charge (SAC), FBI Atlanta Field Office, requests the public’s assistance in locating a female serial bank robber and identifying her various male accomplices who are responsible for a series of bank robberies as well as an attempted bank robbery.

The latest robbery happened yesterday, January 25, 2018 at the Hamilton State Bank located at 519 Hardee Street, Dallas, Georgia.

At about 11:30 a.m., a female suspect walked into the bank with a male accomplice and announced a robbery to everyone in the bank. The female suspect said she had a bomb and ordered employees not to call police. The female was wearing a white hoodie and her face was partially covered with a bandana. The male suspect was described as a dark-skinned black male, thin build, dressed in black, and in his 20’s.

Investigators are also trying to identify a third suspect (male) who drove a getaway vehicle, described as a champagne-colored Cadillac sedan.

The female suspect has been identified as Nilsa Marie Urena, age 25. Urena has been dubbed the “Freedom Fighter Bandit” because she states that she is robbing the banks for a cause.

The FBI believes Urena is also responsible for the following robberies:

• BB&T Bank, 4464 Atlanta Highway, Loganville, Georgia, on January 19, 2018
• First National Bank, 1501 West McIntosh Road, Griffin, Georgia, on December 13, 2017
• First Citizens Bank, 36 GA-72, Comer, Georgia, on December 4, 2017
• Bank of the Ozarks, 9001 Hospital Drive, Douglasville, Georgia, on November 3, 2017
• Georgia’s Own Credit Union, 2437 Loganville Highway, Grayson, Georgia, on November 3, 2017
• Citizen Trust Bank, 2727 Panola Road, Lithonia, Georgia, on November 1, 2017
• Associated Credit Union, 5032 Old Grant Road, Ellenwood, Georgia, on October 30, 2017

And the following attempted robbery:

• Wells Fargo Bank, 6063 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, Georgia, on October 30, 2017

There is a reward being offered for information that leads to Urena’s arrest.

Anyone with information regarding Urena’s location or the identity of the male suspects should contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at (404) 577-TIPS (8477).

TAMPA, FL—The FBI and Seminole Police need the public’s help in identifying the suspect who threatened a cashier and robbed the Poker Room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino early this morning, February 2, 2018. Investigators say just after 2:00 a.m., the suspect pointed a handgun at a cashier in the Poker Room and demanded money. After getting the cash, the suspect took off on foot heading south on Orient Road, south of Interstate 4. No shots were fired and no one was hurt.

The suspect is described as a black male, in his mid-to-late twenties, approximately 5’4″ tall, 140 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with gray sleeves, black sweatpants, and sunglasses.

Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the unknown suspect involved in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com, or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips Mobile application.

The FBI is seeking information on a bank robbery that took place Friday, February 2, 2018, at approximately 5:50 p.m. at a Chase Bank branch located at 380 East 4th Avenue, Hialeah, Florida.

The robber entered the bank and demanded money from a bank employee. There were customers in the bank at the time of the robbery. There were no injuries. The amount of money taken will not be released at this time.

Investigators believe this is the same individual who robbed a BB&T Bank branch at 1455 West 49th Street, Hialeah, Florida, on December 22, 2017.

If anyone has information as to the identity of this bank robber, they are urged to call the FBI at (754) 703-2000 or Crimestoppers.

The FBI is seeking information on a bank robbery that took place Friday, February 2, 2018, at approximately 5:07 p.m. at a Wells Fargo Bank branch located at 6245 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The robber entered the bank and demanded money from a bank employee. There were no injuries. The amount of money taken will not be released at this time.

If anyone has information as to the identity of this bank robber, they are urged to call the FBI at (754) 703-2000 or Crimestoppers.

The FBI is seeking information on a bank robbery that took place Friday, February 2, 2018, at approximately 3:41 p.m. at a Regions Bank branch located at 100 SE 3 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The robber entered the bank and demanded money from a bank employee. There were customers in the bank at the time of the robbery. There were no injuries. The amount of money taken will not be released at this time.

If anyone has information as to the identity of this bank robber, they are urged to call the FBI at (754) 703-2000 or Crimestoppers.