Suspected Serial Bank Robber Indicted For 5 Bay Area Heists
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A 49-year-old Oakland man has been indicted by a federal jury for an armed bank robbery spree in the Bay Area that spanned from October 2018 to February 2019, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney Adam A. Reeves said Duane Kurt Makela used force, violence, and intimidation, to rob a credit union and four banks. Those banks and credit union were:
- October 19, 2018 – Meriwest Credit Union in Mountain View
- October 22, 2018 – Chase Bank in South San Francisco
- November 5, 2018 – U.S. Bank in Alameda
- December 23, 2018 – U.S. Bank in Castro Valley
- February 4, 2019 – Wells Fargo Bank in Palo Alto
Makela allegedly stole a total of $33,301 from the credit union and banks.
The defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 25 years in prison for each of the four armed bank robbery charges and 20 years in prison for the remaining bank robbery charge.
Additional fines, forfeitures, restitution, and special assessments may also be imposed. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim ordered Makela to be held in federal custody pending the outcome of the case. His next appearance is scheduled for May 23, at 1:30 p.m.
