HOUSTON - A total of six out of eight Houston residents arrested for their alleged involvement in the July 25 armed robbery of First Community Credit Union in Katy are set to appear today in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.
Walter Freeman Jordan aka “Wacko," 30, Jaylen Christine Loring, 21, Daryl Carlton Anderson, 31, Deandre Bendard Santee, 26, Johnathon Nico Wise, 26, Raymond Demond Pace, 19, Zelmer Samuel Bonner, 26, and Derrick Eugene Delane, 25, are charged with aiding and abetting aggravated bank robbery and aiding and abetting the unlawful use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. All but Loring and Pace are set to appear today at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo. Loring made her initial appearance yesterday, while Pace is expected to make his first appearance in the near future.
According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 12:52pm on July 25, 2017, a black Toyota Tundra drove to the front of the First Community Credit Union located at 23120 Cinco Ranch Boulevard in Katy. Once there, three individuals entered the bank and allegedly commanded everyone to get on the ground. While inside, two of the robbers jumped the teller counter and demanded credit union employees to open the teller drawers, according to the charges. When one of those employees did not comply quickly enough, one of the robbers allegedly lifted his shirt, brandishing what was described as a black semi-automatic pistol, and punched the employee in the head while yelling “hurry up!" The third robber was also armed with a handgun and was attempting to keep customers and employees compliant. The criminal complaint further alleges that soon thereafter, a fourth robber entered the credit union and screamed “the cops are down the street, let’s go!"
According to the charges, the robbers appeared to be communicating with people outside the credit union via cell phone during the crime.
As they fled the bank with the money, one of the robbers also allegedly accosted and pointed a black semi-automatic pistol at another customer.
According to the criminal complaint, the four robbers returned to the Toyota Tundra and fled the scene along with three other vehicles - a silver Chevrolet Malibu, silver Nissan Rogue and a maroon Volkswagen Jetta. Loring was apprehended a short time later in the Malibu as was Anderson who was driving the Jetta. Shortly thereafter, officers also stopped the Rogue and arrested Santee and Wise.
Authorities pursued the Tundra, which was travelling at speeds up to 120 mph. At one point, the vehicle even drove eastbound in the westbound feeder road lanes of I-10. The 19-mile chase ended at the North Post Oaks Lofts apartment complex on the 1200 block of N. Post Oak Road in Houston, according to the charges. At this location, Jordan, Pace, Bonner and Delane allegedly abandoned the Tundra and attempted to evade police.
Pace was injured when he attempted to run in front of the Tundra. The vehicle was still rolling, and he was pinned between the vehicle and a wall. He was taken into custody and found in possession of a Springfield semi-automatic, model# XD45ACP, according to the complaint. With the help of a K9 unit, officers were also able to arrest Bonner a short distance from the abandoned Tundra.
Jordan and Delane were found hiding in an apartment in the same building where Bonner was arrested. After several hours of negotiation, they exited and were also taken into custody. At that time, law enforcement recovered a Stoeger Cougar.40 Caliber semi-automatic pistol inside the apartment.
If convicted, they face up to 25 years in prison for the bank robbery as well as a consecutive and mandatory seven years for the firearms offense.
The charges are the result of the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative created to proactively fight violent crime across the Greater Houston area. The FBI and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Hanes and Heather Rae Winter are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
