Indiana Couple Gets Time for Texas Bank Heist

CARRIZO SPRINGS, TX – A brazen daylight robbery of Capital Bank of Texas in Carrizo Springs has landed a Gary, Indiana couple in federal prison. Luis Gonzalez, 44, was sentenced to four years behind bars followed by three years of supervised release this morning in Del Rio, according to U.S. Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr. and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.

The October 14, 2015, heist saw Gonzalez enter the bank and present a teller with a threatening note, claiming he was armed and would use violence. He made off with $7,712.00 in U.S. currency before being apprehended the following day. His common-law wife, Lidia Igartua, 36, played a crucial role in the planning and execution of the crime.

Igartua, who has family ties to Carrizo Springs, received a 21-month federal sentence, also with three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty in August 2016. She admitted to procuring disguises used during the robbery and benefiting from the stolen funds. Both Gonzalez and Igartua entered guilty pleas to one count of bank theft on February 25, 2016.

The FBI moved swiftly, arresting Igartua on the day of the robbery and Gonzalez the day after. Agents were able to recover $7,200 of the stolen cash, leaving $512.00 unaccounted for. U.S. District Judge Alia Moses ordered both defendants to jointly pay restitution in the amount of $512.00 to Capital Bank of Texas.

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Igartua’s pre-planning and the couple’s coordinated effort show a level of premeditation that contributed to the severity of their sentences. The FBI’s San Antonio Division led the investigation, with the prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katie Griffin and Lewis Thomas.

Both Gonzalez and Igartua have been in federal custody since their arrests. This case serves as a stark reminder that bank robbery, even in a small town like Carrizo Springs, carries significant federal penalties. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.

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