Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Brandishing Firearm in Bank Heist

Darrel Salazar, 48, of Albuquerque, N.M., stood in federal court today and admitted to pulling a gun on a bank teller during a botched robbery attempt at a Bank of America branch. Salazar pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, capping a two-year-old case that began with a frantic 911 call and ended with a suspect caught blocks from the scene.

The attempted heist occurred on Jan. 11, 2016, at the Bank of America located at 3101 Carlisle Blvd. NE. Surveillance footage and witness statements show Salazar walked in, passed a handwritten note demanding cash, and flashed a firearm when the teller hesitated. No money changed hands. He fled the building empty-handed, but not unseen.

Minutes after the failed robbery, Albuquerque Police Department officers intercepted Salazar near a convenience store just blocks away. He was arrested on Jan. 12, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted bank robbery. Ballistics checks confirmed the firearm was operable and tied to the threat.

A federal grand jury later indicted Salazar on Feb. 9, 2016, on multiple counts, including the attempted robbery of the Bank of America, a separate alleged robbery of a Wells Fargo at 5555 Montgomery Blvd. on the same day, and the firearm charge tied directly to the Bank of America encounter. All charges stemmed from incidents in Bernalillo County, N.M.

At today’s hearing, Salazar dropped all defenses and entered a guilty plea solely to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. By doing so, he admitted to being armed, presenting the weapon to intimidate the teller, and using it during the commission of a violent felony—admissions that carry a mandatory minimum sentence under federal law.

Salazar now faces a mandatory minimum of seven years and up to life in federal prison. He remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque as authorities prepare for sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh and investigated jointly by the FBI’s Albuquerque Division and the Albuquerque Police Department.

RELATED: Albuquerque Trafficking: Two Minors Exploited

RELATED: Kirtland Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking Charge