PROVIDENCE – Lenin Gutierrez, 39, of Cranston, was ordered detained in federal custody today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with bank robbery. It is alleged that Gutierrez robbed a Citizens Bank branch office inside a Stop & Shop supermarket in Johnston on December 30, 2016.
The criminal complaint and Gutierrez’s initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan is announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Johnston Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Division of the FBI.
According to court documents and information presented to the court, it is alleged that Gutierrez, dressed in a beige jacket, black facemask, and a Spiderman hat and scarf, handed the bank teller a hand-written note demanding cash and threatening to shoot the teller if the money was not handed over. After the teller gave Gutierrez $100 and $50 dollar bills, Gutierrez demanded more money. The teller then handed over $20 bills. Gutierrez left the bank without showing a weapon.
According to court documents, a supermarket employee told responding Johnston Police officers that he saw a person who looked out of place on the other side of a fence adjoining the supermarket parking lot. Officers searched the area and located a black facemask, and a Spiderman hat and scarf. A beige jacket was located in the parking lot. Inside the jacket, officers located a note that said, “Robbery $100 and $50 Stacks only No die pack No Alarm. have A gun will use.” An outer pocket contained a stack of $20 bills.
According to court documents, a fingerprint lifted from the note by Johnston Police detectives was matched to Lenin Gutierrez. Further investigation by Johnston Police Department detectives, including the review of electronic surveillance video, determined that Gutierrez allegedly purchased the black ski mask, and Spiderman hat and scarf at a Walmart in Cranston the day before the robbery.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bank robbery is punishable statutory penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment followed by up to 3 years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.
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