West Valley’s Pete Mafua Hit With Three Robbery Counts

SALT LAKE CITY – The West Valley City streets are stirring with a fresh wave of crime headlines as Pete Mafua, 19, finds himself staring down three counts of bank robbery. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Wednesday afternoon against the young suspect in connection with robberies that struck Magna, West Valley City, and Taylorsville earlier this month.

The alleged spree began on February 1, 2013, when Mafua is accused of robbing Zions Bank at 8375 West 3500 South in Magna. The next day, he allegedly struck twice more – first at America First Credit Union at 4976 West 3500 South in West Valley City, and later at U.S. Bank located at 4135 South Redwood Road in Taylorsville.

According to court documents, the robber at Zions Bank wore a black hat, black shirt, and a blue coat, his face uncovered as he handed over a note demanding cash. The suspect fled the scene with cash after receiving it from the teller, leaving behind a note that law enforcement was able to process for fingerprints.

One fingerprint matched Mafua’s, and local news programs aired surveillance video of the crime, leading to a tip that identified him as the suspect. Mafua was arrested on February 2, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Evelyn J. Furse deemed him a danger to the community, ordering his detention pending trial.

Mafua will face arraignment Thursday afternoon, where he will be formally charged with the three robberies. The investigation into these brazen acts is being led by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, in collaboration with the Salt Lake Unified Police Department and the West Valley City Police Department.