Hialeah Bank Robber Gets 11+ Years

Miramar, FL – Ariel Valero, 45, of Hialeah, is trading palm trees for prison bars after receiving a sentence of over 11 years in federal lockup for a brazen armed robbery of a Wells Fargo branch. The feds say Valero walked into the Miramar bank on December 26, 2019, decked out in a black jumpsuit and ski mask, and didn’t bother with subtlety.

Witnesses and surveillance footage show Valero hopped onto the teller counter, brandishing a firearm and threatening bank employees. He made off with $30,959.99 in cold, hard cash. It wasn’t a sophisticated operation, and Valero thought he’d gotten away clean. He was wrong. The getaway vehicle? A bicycle. A decidedly low-tech choice for a high-stakes crime.

Federal investigators quickly zeroed in on Valero after reviewing the surveillance footage. The bike, abandoned near a plaza, became a key piece of evidence. Forensic analysis of the bicycle seat revealed Valero’s DNA – a definitive link placing him at the scene of the crime. It’s a reminder that even seemingly minor details can unravel a criminal’s plan.

The case was spearheaded by FBI Miami, with crucial assistance from the Miramar Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys took the lead in prosecution, building a solid case based on the physical evidence and eyewitness accounts. The feds didn’t just go for the robbery charge; they also moved to seize any assets Valero acquired through illegal means.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI’s Miami Field Office announced the sentencing, delivered by U.S. Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. Valero will spend the next eleven-plus years behind bars, followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence is a clear message: robbing banks in South Florida comes with a hefty price.

This wasn’t a case of meticulous planning or a criminal mastermind. It was a desperate act that fell apart thanks to quick police work, solid forensic science, and a getaway bike that ultimately betrayed its rider. Valero’s case serves as a stark warning to anyone considering a similar path – the feds are watching, and they *will* find you.