"Bank Whisperer," Serial Bank Robber, Sentenced to 13½ Years in Federal Prison
Crime Blotter
November 13, 2009
PHOENIX—Ryan Akira Garcia, 35, the so-called "Bank Whisperer," was sentenced today to 13½ years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton. Garcia, who was on federal supervised release out of Tucson for Importation of Cocaine, was charged with five bank robberies in the Phoenix area in 2008. He pled guilty on May 27, 2009, to three counts of Bank Robbery and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Garcia was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the bank robberies and firearm charges, and an additional 1½ years for violating the terms of his supervised release.
The facts showed that during August and September 2008, Garcia robbed ten banks by presenting a note to the victim-tellers that stated, "I have a gun." Based on a review of surveillance photos and the similarity of the modus operandi, law enforcement determined the robber of these ten banks was the same person. He was dubbed the "Bank Whisperer" because of the low voice in which he spoke to the victim-tellers. After law enforcement identified Ryan Garcia as the suspect, witnesses at the banks were shown photo line-ups and positively identified Garcia as the robber. After he was identified, law enforcement approached a hotel room in which Garcia was known to be staying. Garcia barricaded himself in the room but was eventually talked into surrendering. During the negotiation, he slid two handguns under the door to deputies. After he was arrested, police found a brand-new, big screen TV still in the box inside his room.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Phoenix Police Department, Tempe Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Scottsdale Police Department, and Chandler Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Alison S. Bachus, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-08-1467-PHX-SRB and CR-98-190-TUC-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-342(Garcia)
The facts showed that during August and September 2008, Garcia robbed ten banks by presenting a note to the victim-tellers that stated, "I have a gun." Based on a review of surveillance photos and the similarity of the modus operandi, law enforcement determined the robber of these ten banks was the same person. He was dubbed the "Bank Whisperer" because of the low voice in which he spoke to the victim-tellers. After law enforcement identified Ryan Garcia as the suspect, witnesses at the banks were shown photo line-ups and positively identified Garcia as the robber. After he was identified, law enforcement approached a hotel room in which Garcia was known to be staying. Garcia barricaded himself in the room but was eventually talked into surrendering. During the negotiation, he slid two handguns under the door to deputies. After he was arrested, police found a brand-new, big screen TV still in the box inside his room.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Phoenix Police Department, Tempe Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Scottsdale Police Department, and Chandler Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Alison S. Bachus, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-08-1467-PHX-SRB and CR-98-190-TUC-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-342(Garcia)
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