FBI San Francisco Division #News Release:

FBI Reports Decrease in Bank Robberies Throughout the Northern California District for 2015

FBI San FranciscoDecember 30, 2015

Public Affairs Specialist Michele Ernst(415) 553-7590

The FBI is announcing that for the second year in a row, there is an overall decrease in the number of bank robberies throughout the Northern California District in 2015. Over the past year, there have been 102 bank robberies compared to 152 in 2014 and 229 in 2013.

The credit is due to the teamwork and partnerships between the FBI, local law enforcement agencies, and the community. Some of the high profile robbers captured this past year include the apprehension and arrest of Darius Gilbert, who had become known as the Clean Cut Bandit. Gilbert is believed to be connected to at least seven robberies throughout the Bay Area last spring. He was captured and arrested in June.

In October, the FBI arrested Samuel Campbell, who was wanted for a bank robbery in Clearlake. Campbell had fled the state, but FBI agents working with Clearlake Police were able to track him down to Flint, Michigan and arrest him there.

Also this past fall, the FBI working with the San Francisco Police Department arrested Richard Laurence Stewart who had become known as the Straw Hat Bandit. Stewart was indicted for robbing four banks in San Francisco.

The FBI is thankful to the community for its help in providing tips and assisting law enforcement in bringing these criminals to justice. As we look to the New Year, the FBI continues to seek information about outstanding bank robbers wanted in the Northern California district.

• The FBI is currently seeking a man known as the Droopy Face Bandit. He is believed to be responsible for as many as 10 robberies in San Francisco dating back to 2007. He appears to be targeting banks in predominantly Asian neighborhoods throughout San Francisco, including Chinatown and the Clement Street area. In each case, he has used a note to demand money from the tellers and has led them to believe that he possessed a weapon. A reward of up to $5,000 is available for information that leads to the apprehension and prosecution of this robber.
• The FBI is also offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrests and prosecutions of any or all of the individuals who are responsible for a takeover bank robbery in Greenfield. The robbery happened on June 12, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 560 Walnut Avenue in Greenfield. Three armed individuals entered the bank and threatened employees and customers. A fourth suspect remained in a getaway vehicle, which was described as a green van. The suspects wore mask and hooded sweatshirts.
• The FBI is also offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrests and prosecutions of an individual who is responsible for a takeover bank robbery in Felton. The robbery happened on July 13, 2015 at the Liberty Bank located at 6230 Highway 9. A Caucasian adult male, approximately 5’10”-6’0” and possibly left handed, entered the bank, and threatened employees and customers with a handgun. He wore sunglasses, a white dress shirt, and white hat. He also carried a large backpack, which he used to carry the stolen money. During the robbery, he forced hostages into a vault area.
• The FBI is also offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrests and prosecutions of any or all of the individuals who are responsible for a violent bank robbery in Salinas. This robbery happened on the evening of November 9, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 1903 Natividad Road. Three men burst into the bank and violently took customers and employees hostage and threatened their lives. The men were armed and reported to be Hispanic. They were wearing hooded sweatshirts, bright yellow construction safety vests, tinted glasses, and painter’s masks. The robbers fled in a dark colored sedan, possibly a Honda. Investigators believe there may have been additional people in the getaway vehicle.
• The FBI is seeking information about the identities of two men who robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in Campbell. The robbery happened on November 21, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Bank at 1790 South Bascom Avenue. Two male suspects armed with guns entered the bank and demanded everyone get on the floor. The suspects wore black hooded sweatshirts and masks covering their nose and mouth. One of the suspects forced bank employees to open the vault. Money from the vault was placed into a black bag and what was described as a blue re-useable grocery bag. The suspects fled to a waiting white VW Jetta, which was occupied by one or two more suspects. The VW was later found abandoned on Kuehnis Drive (the street directly behind the bank). Witnesses saw the suspects get out of the VW and get into a green pickup truck. The green truck was later located a short distance away on Phantom Avenue. Both vehicles were determined to be stolen.
• The FBI is seeking information about the identity of a suspect who robbed the U.S. Bank located in the Safeway store on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito. It happened shortly after 10:30 a.m. on December 28, 2015. The suspect wore sunglasses, a baseball hat, a grey puff jacket, and a slight beard (which was possibly fake). The suspect passed a teller a note that demanded money and threatened that he/she had a gun. The suspect was then seen driving away in a silver/white sedan.

All of these suspects in each of these cases should be considered armed and dangerous

The FBI is asking anyone with information about his identity or whereabouts to come forward and contact the San Francisco FBI Office at: (415) 553-7400.

Resources:

• Wanted poster and pictures for Droopy Face Bandit
• Wanted poster and pictures for Greenfield bank robbery
• Wanted poster and pictures for Felton bank robbery
• Wanted poster and pictures for Salinas bank robbery
• Wanted poster and pictures for Campbell bank robbery
• Wanted poster and pictures for El Cerrito bank robbery