Jesus Manuel Almanza, Bank Robbery, New Mexico 2018

A brazen bank robbery in Albuquerque’s northwest left customers shaken on April 24, 2018, but a guilty plea yesterday marked a turning point in the case against the man accused of carrying out the heist.

Jesus Manuel Almanza, 23, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to a bank robbery charge without the benefit of a plea agreement. The FBI arrested Almanza in April 2018, on a criminal complaint charging him with robbing the Wells Fargo bank branch located at 7827 4th Street NW, in Albuquerque.

According to the complaint, Almanza jumped over the teller station in the bank, demanded money, opened the bank teller’s drawer, and took its contents. He then stole money from another bank teller before casually walking out of the bank and departing the area in a vehicle.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) was able to obtain a residential address in Albuquerque, based on the registered owner of the vehicle in which Almanza left the scene of the bank robbery. Later that day, BCSO deputies arrested Almanza at the Albuquerque residence. The FBI executed a consensual search at the residence with the homeowner’s consent and seized a large sum of cash and found the vehicle in the garage.

Almanza was indicted on May 9, 2018, and was charged with bank robbery on April 24, 2018, in Bernalillo County, N.M. He was remanded into custody after entering his guilty plea; he will remain detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Almanza faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Thomas is prosecuting the case. The guilty plea brings a measure of closure to the victims of the bank robbery and their families.

As the community continues to rebuild and heal, the Albuquerque Police Department remains committed to keeping our streets safe and bringing those responsible for crimes like bank robbery to justice. The guilty plea is a testament to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies in our city.

Related Federal Cases