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Raulier Rivas Lopez, Credit Union Robbery, Florida 2012
Orlando, FL – In a brazen display of violence, Raulier Rivas Lopez, a 28-year-old man from Orlando, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for his role in a credit union robbery that left several employees shaken.
According to court documents and testimony at sentencing, Lopez, along with three co-conspirators, robbed the American Eagle Credit Union located at 7007 SeaWorld Drive, in Orlando on January 25, 2012. Lopez and two of his co-conspirators, all wearing masks, entered the credit union and demanded money from the credit union employees. Lopez pointed a firearm at the employees as his co-conspirators pepper-sprayed the employees so that they would not be able to identify the robbers.
The heist was a successful one, with the perpetrators stealing approximately $7,000 during the robbery. However, their luck would soon run out as Lopez was apprehended and brought to justice.
Lopez pleaded guilty on June 10, 2014, and was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. As part of his sentence, the Court also ordered Lopez to pay over $7,000 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Schuster.
In a related development, one other individual, Joseph Cotto-Diaz, has been arrested for his role in the robbery. Cotto-Diaz was charged in a superseding indictment on March 19, 2014, and is scheduled for trial in October 2014.
The sentence sends a strong message that violent crime will not be tolerated in our community. We commend the bravery of the credit union employees who were victims of this heinous crime and hope that they can find some measure of closure now that justice has been served.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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