Statewide Digital Billboard Campaign Launched
Up to $5,000 Crime Stoppers Cash Reward
The FBI Violent Crime Task Force is linking an armed serial bank robber to at least six bank heists in three Texas cities – Houston, Pearland, and Sugar Land – beginning in 2014. The latest robbery occurred in Houston earlier this month. The FBI is releasing photographs of the armed gunman from several of the robberies. Beginning today, the Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas with its member companies Clear Channel Outdoor and Lamar Advertising will publish the robber’s photograph and a reward in the case on digital billboards located throughout the Greater Houston area and across Texas. Crime Stoppers of Houston will pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identity and arrest of the serial bank robber.
Investigators from the FBI, Pearland Police Department and Sugarland Police Departments are teaming up to work the case. They believe the crime spree started at the Frost Bank located at 11201 Broadway in Pearland, Texas on December 16, 2014. He then went on to rob the Prosperity Bank located at 11451 Broadway in Pearland, Texas on May 19, 2015; the Trustmark Bank located at 1845 State Highway 6 in Sugarland, Texas on June 30, 2015; the Capital One Bank located at 1520 West Sam Houston Parkway in Houston, Texas on July 17, 2015; and a second time at the Frost bank location at 11201 Broadway Street in Pearland, Texas on October 8, 2015. The latest robbery occurred at the same Capital One Bank location at 1520 West Sam Houston Parkway in Houston, Texas on March 3, 2016. In each robbery the suspect is armed with a black semi-automatic handgun and uses the weapon to threaten tellers while he verbally demands cash. In each case, the gunman has fled the area with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one has been physically hurt in the robberies.
Investigators believe the armed gunman – whose identity is unknown at this time – may be traveling in from outside the Greater Houston area to commit these crimes and avoid recognition. With the help of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas with its members companies Clear Channel Outdoor and Lamar Advertising, the FBI is launching a statewide digital billboard and publicity campaign in the hopes of generating leads in the case. Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering an up to $5,000 reward for information that leads to the serial robber’s identity and arrest.
The armed bank robber is described as a Black male, 45 – 55 years old, approximately 5’10 – 6’0” tall, and weighing about 200 pounds. He typically wears a ball cap and sunglasses and has changed his look during the robberies with varying degrees of facial hair, from a goatee to a mustache. During each of the robberies, the robber brandished a black semi-automatic handgun.
If you have information about the serial bank robber, please call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or the FBI Houston Field Office at (713) 693-5000. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or visit www.crime-stoppers.org. Tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers through the Crime Stoppers of Houston app which can be downloaded at the app store for both iPhone and android devices. All tipsters remain anonymous.
Clear Channel Outdoor and Lamar Advertising are donating the digital billboard space as a public service to the community.
