| For Immediate Release Case # 11CF0063 January 14, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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THIRD-STRIKER CONVICTED OF ROBBING TWO BANK OF AMERICA EMPLOYEES OF $30,000 USING GUN AND FAKE BOMB
*Defendant was coined the “Scanner Bandit” by the FBI in four prior federal bank robberies
FULLERTON – A third-striker was convicted today of robbing two employees of an Orange Bank of America branch and stealing $30,000 in cash by threatening staff and occupants with a firearm and fake bomb. Garry Allen Reeder, 50, Santa Fe Springs, pleaded guilty to the court to two felony counts of second degree robbery, one felony count of false bomb delivery, and one felony count of second degree commercial burglary, with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon, the personal use of a firearm, and four 1992 federal prior convictions for Los Angeles County bank robberies. He faces a sentence of 25 years in prison at his sentencing April 12, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. in Department N-13, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 4, 2011, Reeder entered a Bank of America branch in Orange under the pretense of opening a checking account. He sat down at a desk with a bank employee and opened a day planner containing what appeared to be a bomb. The bomb was later determined to be fake. Reeder threatened two employees that they had 30 seconds to provide him $30,000 in cash. As the employees went to the bank’s vault, Reeder lifted his shirt and showed a firearm to bank customers to dissuade them from moving. He stole $30,000 by force and fear, left the fake bomb on a desk, and fled on foot. Bank employees called 911.
The Orange County Bomb Squad, Orange Police Department (OPD), and Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene and investigated the case. Reeder was arrested Jan. 7, 2011, by OPD at a hotel in Corona. At the time of his arrest, Reeder was in possession of $19,000 in marked bills. Reeder had spent $11,000 of the stolen money on hotel rooms, rental cars, and other personal expenses.
Senior Deputy District Attorney John Christl of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.
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