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FBI PRESS RELEASE

= LOS ANGELES FIELD OFFICE

11000 Wilshire Blvd C Los Angeles, CA 90024 C 310-996-3343, 3342, 4402 C www.losangeles.fbi.gov

For Immediate Rel= ease: June 6, 2008

REWARD OFFERED BY WACHOVIA AND BANK OF AMERICA FOR “BORICUAS” BANDITS, SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH THREE VIOLENT TAKEOVER ROBBERIES AND CHECK-CASHING FACILITIES

        &= nbsp;   Rewards are being offered by Wachovia Bank and Bank of America in connection with t= he investigation to identify and apprehend three bank robbers who most recently robbed a bank in Upland, California, on Wednesday, June 4^th.= The robbery has been linked to two earlier bank robberies; one in Upland on April 24<= sup>th and a Bank of America in Walnut, California on May 6th. The FBI and local police departmen= ts are seeking the public’s assistance with information leading to the identification of the bank robbers, including two males and one female, kno= wn as the “Boricuas Bandits,” who are also believed to be responsi= ble for two “Check and Go” facilities in Rialto and Upland; those robberies are being investigated by police in those cities.

        &= nbsp;   During the robberies, one male and the female enter the bank together, followed by= the third male. The female and on= e male have brandished handguns during the robberies, at times threatening victims= at gunpoint, while the third robber appears to be acting as a lookout. During the robberies, the suspects were heard calling one another “Boricua,̶= 1; a vernacular term which is used to describe individuals of Puerto Rican desce= nt.

        &= nbsp;   The Boricuas Bandits have been seen leaving the bank in a silver BMW but were n= ot further observed. =

      The Boricuas Bandits have been seen wearing baseball caps or beanies and generally well-dressed in casual clothing; they are described as follows:

        &= nbsp;   Male #1 is described as follows:

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Sex        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Male

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Race        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;     Hispanic

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Age        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       18 - 25

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Height        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   5' 7"

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Weight        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; 130

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Other        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;     Glasses

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Tattoos        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Neck (NFI)

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Gun        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Silver semiautomatic

Mal= e #2 is described as follows:

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Sex        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Male

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Race        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;     Hispanic

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Age        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       18 - 25

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Height        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   5' 6"

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Weight        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; 125

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

The= armed female robber is described as follows:

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Sex        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Female
        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Race        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;     Hispanic

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Age        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       18 - 25

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Height        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   5' 8"

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Weight        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; 125

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Gun        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Silver semi-automatic

        &= nbsp;   The Boricuas Bandits are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information should con= tact their local FBI office or their local law enforcement agency. The FBI in Los Angeles can be reach= ed 24 hours per day, seven days a week at 310 477-6565.

        &= nbsp;   Photographs taken from bank surveillance cameras during the bank robberies are being released to the media. Wachov= ia Bank is offering a reward of up to $10,000, and the Bank of America is offe= ring a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the individuals believed to be responsible for this series of robberies.

        &= nbsp;   Additional information can be found at www.l= abankrobbers.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

FBI: Laura Eimiller: 310 99= 6-3343 or

Lourdes Arocho: 310 996-4402 (Spanish speaker)