ALBUQUERQUE - Joshua Abeyta, 22, of Rio Rancho, N.M., made his initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., this morning on a criminal complaint charging him with bank robbery. Abeyta remains in custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing both of which are scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Abeyta was arrested yesterday on a criminal complaint charging him with robbing the Santa Fe Federal Credit Bank located at 7101 Jefferson St. NE in Albuquerque, earlier in the day. The complaint alleges that Abeyta robbed the bank by handing a handwritten note with a robbery demand to a bank teller. The teller complied with Abeyta’s written and verbal robbery demands and handed money over to Abeyta. Abeyta left the scene on foot and was pursued by customers of the bank before being arrested by an Albuquerque Police Department officer.
If convicted of the crime charged in the criminal complaint, Abeyta faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations. All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
