TACOMA, WA – Randall Taufete’e, 34, learned today that playing with fire doesn’t pay. The trained welder was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 66 months in prison for a brazen attempt to torch his way into an O Bee Credit Union in Tumwater and pilfer an ATM. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the sentence following Taufete’e’s guilty plea to arson and attempted larceny of a federally insured credit union on March 15, 2024.
The October 24, 2022, incident drew a swift response from Tumwater firefighters, who arrived to find flames erupting from the top of the ATM, embedded within the credit union’s wall. They quickly extinguished the blaze, but not before thick smoke filled the building. The damage? A staggering $198,018. Investigators quickly discovered char marks and pry damage not only on the ATM itself, but also on the night deposit box, drive-through window, and an exterior door.
Surveillance footage painted a clear picture: Taufete’e and his accomplice, Brandon Ronald Collado, weren’t exactly subtle. The pair used a pry bar, an electric saw, and, most notably, an oxyacetylene welder’s torch in a clumsy attempt to crack the ATM and gain access to the building’s interior. Despite the overwhelming video evidence, Taufete’e initially denied any involvement. Judge Benjamin H. Settle didn’t buy it, stating at sentencing, “Arson is an extremely serious offense. It destroys property and risks harm to the lives of others, including firefighters. You’re fortunate you didn’t set the entire structure on fire.”
Taufete’e and Collado were indicted in January 2023. Collado, already a convicted felon, pleaded guilty in June 2023 and received a 30-month sentence. Prosecutors argued for a significantly harsher penalty for Taufete’e – 92 months – citing a lengthy criminal history riddled with convictions for theft, assault, robbery, burglary, and firearms possession. While the judge didn’t grant the full request, the 66-month sentence still sends a clear message: attempting to use industrial tools to rob a bank is a fast track to federal prison.
Following his release, Taufete’e will face three years of supervised release. Both he and Collado are jointly responsible for the $198,018 in restitution to cover the damages inflicted on the O Bee Credit Union. The case was a joint investigation led by the Tumwater Police Department, with crucial support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). This wasn’t just about a failed robbery; it was about reckless endangerment and a blatant disregard for public safety.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the fallout as Taufete’e navigates the federal prison system. This incident serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly sophisticated attempts at crime are often undone by poor planning, readily available evidence, and the diligent work of law enforcement.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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