Search on for identity of bank robber
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

Contributed Photo The Suspect This shot from a surveillance camera is the best photo available of the heavily disguised man suspected of robbing three South Texas banks. A reward is offered for information leading to his identity and indictment.

A reward is being offered to help police in the region find a speedy bank robber who favors elaborate disguises and small banks.

"The FBI and Texas Rangers believe the same man may have committed all three crimes," said Cindy Howell, El Campo Police Department officer and coordinator for West Wharton County Crime Stoppers.

"We think possibly someone in the El Campo area may know something about the Ganado robbery. We're not sure where the suspect lives, but he's been hitting random areas throughout South Texas."

A man wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans walked into the First State Bank of Louise in Ganado just after 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, armed with a semi-automatic pistol. He ordered cash from two tellers while forcing other employees to lie on the floor.

He fled with a canvas bag full of money in a 1994-1998 gray or silver Dodge extended cab pickup truck.

Witnesses say the suspect in the Ganado robbery is a Caucasian or Hispanic male, between 5-feet, 7-inches and 6-feet tall, in his 30s or 40s and with an average build. A Ganado bank teller said he had a Hispanic accent.

Although in surveillance photos he was wearing a cowboy hat and beard, Ganado PD Chief Rodney Roberson said officials believe he was wearing makeup and a fake beard and scar.

FBI Agents think the suspect may be the same man who robbed the Suntide Federal Credit Union in Odem near Corpus Christi on March 13, and Prosperity Bank in Yorktown on Jan. 23.

In the Suntide robbery, the suspect was described as a white male, 6-feet, 2-inches tall with pock marks on his face. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, a hat, sunglasses, gloves and a long blackand white wig.

An older woman and a young man were working in the bank at the time. The suspect made the woman lie on the floor and then kept apologizing to her for doing so.

In all three crimes, the suspect wore disguises, used a handgun, had the money placed in a canvas bag, and was in and out of the building in only moments.

In the Yorktown robbery, he wore a ski mask and baseball cap.

Chief Roberson said surveillance photos show what is likely the suspect's pickup,

"The truck is a '94 to '98 Dodge extended cab, silver or gray," Roberson said. "It's believed the truck is involved. It was seen running a stop sign and heading out of town at a high rate of speed."

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward to anyone who can help bring to justice the man behind this series of robberies. If you have information about his identity, or other facts about this case, please call West Wharton County Crime Stoppers at 543- TIPS (543-8477).

Callers and do not have to give their names to qualify for a reward. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and grand jury indictment of wanted felons.