HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A man accused of robbing the First Hawaiian Bank’s Dededo branch on Aug. 13 faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
Vincente Guerrero Perez, 56, also known as Ben Mangga, appeared before District Court of Guam Magistrate Judge Michael Bordallo on Monday.
He was charged with bank robbery.
Judge Bordallo said he will have Perez remain behind bars because he is a danger to the community and a flight risk.
The court appointed Federal Public Defender John Gorman to represent the defendant who is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 3.
The FBI announced Perez’s arrest on Monday after he was found at the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center undergoing treatment.
According to the complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Perez went to the bank on Aug. 13 and passed a note to the teller that read:
Put the money in
a bag I am rob your
Rob just put until I
walk out
Thank you.
The teller, who was scared that the robber might be armed, put a total of $1,560 inside a plastic bag that Perez handed to the teller, court documents states.
The teller triggered the alarm after the suspect fled.
Surveillance footage at the Compadres Mall shows the suspect then walk next door to King’s Restaurant where he paid $20 for food and drink before he left the restaurant in a taxi.
Investigators tracked down the taxi driver who told them that suspect at first wanted to be dropped off to the airport, but changed his mind and was taken to another location to look for a massage.
According to court documents, Perez admitted that he was the person caught on surveillance video at the King’s Restaurant, adding that he had robbed the bank prior to going to the restaurant.
He also told investigators that he knew it was wrong to rob the bank, and that he wanted to get caught. He said he waited at the restaurant for police to show up. But he said he left because the officers took too long to arrive.
Perez also said that he did not have any money left from the bank robbery, as he tried to buy a car for $500, but the sellers took the car back and stole all his belongings. He said he also spent some of the money on beer and cigarettes.
Perez has a local and federal criminal record that goes back to 2000.
Vincente Guerrero Perez
