January 9, 2009

“Down and Out” Bank Robber Arrested

A recently unemployed man robbed the Bank of America today but was immediately arrested for the crime.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, 60, of Las Vegas, Nevada, had moved to El Paso several months ago but had been unemployed since November. After spending his last bit of money, he decided to rob a federal bank in the event that he was caught he would serve federal, rather than state, time.

Fitzpatrick entered the Bank of America, 9101 Dyer, El Paso, Texas, around 12:45 pm and asked the teller to give him money. After some discussion, Fitzpatrick went to his car, wrote out a demand note, re-entered the bank and told the same teller that he was robbing the bank. When the teller did not give him any money, he sat down in the bank lobby waiting for police to arrive.

El Paso Police Department marked units showed up at the bank and Fitzpatrick walked outside and turned himself in.

Fitzpatrick has been booked into jail on federal bank robbery charges. The case was worked by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force which includes members of the El Paso Police Department and El Paso Sheriff’s Department.