Edmunds, Rasband Indicted in Utah Bank Robbery Spree

SALT LAKE CITY – A brazen string of bank and credit union robberies plaguing Salt Lake, Utah, and Davis counties has culminated in federal indictments for two suspects, authorities announced Wednesday. The FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force has been working tirelessly to bring these individuals to justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is now poised to prosecute.

Bret Michael Edmunds, 41, of Salt Lake City, stands accused of orchestrating a seven-count robbery spree between February and April of 2017. The indictment details his alleged involvement in the following heists: Feb. 8, 2017, Jordan Credit Union in Midvale; Feb. 23, 2017, Zions Bank in Midvale; Mar. 1, 2017, Washington Federal Bank in Salt Lake City; Mar. 14, 2017, US Bank in Salt Lake City; Mar. 28, 2017, Zions Bank in Draper; April 3, 2017, Utah First Credit Union in Provo; and April 13, 2017, University Federal Credit Union in Holladay. If convicted on all counts, Edmunds faces a staggering potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison per count.

The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI, the Unified Police Department, and the Salt Lake City Police Department, along with assistance from other local agencies, points to a calculated series of “note-job” robberies. Details regarding the methods used by Edmunds remain scarce as the investigation continues, but authorities believe he acted alone in these crimes.

Meanwhile, Kevin Dean Rasband, 30, of Layton, Utah, has been indicted on four counts related to separate robberies. Rasband is accused of robbing the Goldenwest Credit Union in Kaysville in February 2017, and the Utah First Federal Credit Union in Farmington on March 29, 2017. Adding to the severity of the charges, Rasband also faces two counts of brandishing a firearm during the commission of these crimes. This carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years for the first firearm charge and an additional 25 years for the second – a potential 32-year addition to any robbery sentence, to be served consecutively.

The Farmington Police Department and Kaysville Police Department assisted the FBI in the Rasband investigation. The charges against Rasband suggest a more aggressive approach, with the alleged use of a firearm escalating the potential penalties significantly. Investigators are currently working to determine if Rasband acted alone or with accomplices.

It’s crucial to remember that these are indictments, not convictions. Both Edmunds and Rasband are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Federal arrest warrants have been issued for both men, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah will now proceed with the prosecution of these cases. Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available.