HAMMOND- United States Attorney David A. Capp announced that a federal grand jury in Hammond returned an indictment charging two individuals with a series of bank robberies in Northwest Indiana.
The indictment charges Artez Brewer, 29, of Gary, Indiana with three counts of bank robbery and charges Robin Pawlak, 30, of Gary, Indiana with two counts of bank robbery.
The indictment alleges that on April 28, 2016, Brewer and Pawlak robbed Centier Bank in Griffith, Indiana; on May 6, 2016, Brewer robbed Main Source Bank in Crown Point, Indiana; and on May 27, 2016, Brewer and Pawlak robbed Horizon Bank located in Whiting, Indiana.
The defendants were arrested following the robbery of Banner Bank in Los Angeles, California on June 10, 2016. Brewer and Pawlak are scheduled for trial in the Central District of California on August 9, 2016. Upon conclusion of the trial both defendants will be transferred to the Northern District of Indiana to face charges here.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Crown Point, Griffith and Whiting, Indiana Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang.
The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
