Orlando, FL - United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Ricardo Rodriguez, Jr. (24) and Brandon Mojica (23), both of Deltona, with armed bank robbery. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison.
According to the, on the morning of November 8, 2016, Rodriguez displayed a firearm and forced two bank employees, including Mojica, to provide access to the safe of a bank in Lake Mary, Florida. Rodriguez took approximately $295,000 from the safe and physically restrained both employees before fleeing the bank. Responding officers from the Lake Mary Police Department quickly located, pursued, and apprehended Rodriguez. They also recovered the cash that Rodriguez had stolen from the bank and the firearm used during the robbery. Further investigation revealed that Mojica had assisted Rodriguez in planning the robbery by providing information concerning the bank and its employees in advance.
Rodriguez and Mojica made their initial appearances in federal court yesterday. Following a detention hearing, Rodriguez was ordered detained pending further proceedings. Mojica was ordered temporarily detained until his formal detention hearing, which has been scheduled for Nov. 17, 2016.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Lake Mary Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C.L. Chang.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
