A couple in their late teens, that wrote incriminating messages to each other on Facebook about robbing a bank in Texas, are facing criminal charges, as reported by CNN Justice.
The criminal complaint was filed in federal court this month.
Court documents show that messages written on their “What’s on your mind?” section of Facebook read, “Get $$$” and “Wipe my teeth with hundereds (sic).”
Getting money was what Houston’s International Bank of Commerce employee, E.D.M., 19, boasted about two days before allegedly stealing $62,201. Her boyfriend, R.G., 18, wrote about using the bills on his teeth on March 24 – the day after to
robbery took place
Coupled with their postings on the social networking site, an anonymous tip also came through Crime Stoppers on March 30.
Two others were also arrested according to the federal complaint.
The attorney for E.D.M. claims that the Facebook postings attest to the immaturity of his client and he asked that she be given only a short prison term or probation.
FBI Special Agent Kevin J. Katz stated that E.D.M. has attested that another teller at the bank, A.M.R., planned the heist.
According to the affidavit A.M.R. was working at the bank when it was previously robbed. From that incident she allegedly “believed staging the robbery would be easy.”
The previous robbery remains unsolved.
The affidavit reads, “(E.D.M.) advised the plan was for herself and (A.M.R.) to pick a date where they would both be working the late shift and they would plan for the staged robbery to take place close to closing time, thus minimizing the chances of any customers being in the bank.”
R.G. allegedly enlisted his brother, A.S., to help with the heist.
At approximately 5:45 p.m. on March 23 the bank’s surveillance video filmed two masked and armed men entering the bank, jumping over the counter and demanding money.
Later it was discovered that one of the handguns was a fake.
The tellers were ordered into the bank’s vault after putting the stolen money in a bag. There were no customers present.
The tellers later called 911.
On March 24 R.G. updated his Facebook status by writing, “U have to past the line sometimes!! To get dis money.”
E.D.M. wrote “I’m rich” on R.G.’s Facebook page on March 25.
R.G.’s attorney, Lance Hamm, claims that the references made on client’s Facebook page were not in reference to the robbery. He said, “I don't feel the Facebook thing is as relevant as everyone is making it to be.
I think it was just young kids talking.” Hamm also stated, in light of his client’s acknowledgement that he is facing 10 years of incarceration, “he knew he was in over his head.”
Hamm claims the robbery should be seen as an employee theft. He contends that his client was not the organizer and that his role “should be mitigated” during prosecution.
E.D.M.’s attorney, Richard Kuniansky, said that his client, a single mother, has never been in trouble with the law before. Kuniansky said, “They were young and immature and didn't appreciate the seriousness.”
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