Teller tags suspect in six-
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
bank robbery spree
Star-BulletinA teller recognized and identified William L. Sarcedo Jr. as the suspect in one of Thursday's six bank robberies, the FBI says.
Sarcedo, 31, is being held without bail pending charges that he robbed six Honolulu area banks within two hours.
According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court by FBI Special Agent James Tamura-Wageman, Sarcedo has admitted to police that he committed the robberies as well as others on Sept. 1 and Aug. 16.
A quivering and sobbing Sarcedo shook his head and gripped a table while glancing at family members during his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Leslie Kobayashi. But he said nothing.
Sarcedo is being held without bail pending a Wednesday hearing on a motion to detain him. A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 24.
A teller at the Kamehameha Shopping Center branch of American Savings Bank has known William L. Sarcedo for 12 years, the affidavit said.
The robber had handed a note to another teller at the bank demanding money and indicating he had a gun. He got away with $641. Authorities will not say whether a weapon has been found.
The bank's manager followed the suspect, observed him driving off in a white station wagon and noted the license plate number.
Sarcedo was arrested by police a short time later while driving his car in Mapunapuna.
The affidavit says CrimeStoppers had a caller who said Sarcedo had robbed the banks.
The affidavit also says a male cousin of Sarcedo's interviewed by the FBI said Sarcedo attempted to get him to help in a robbery and showed him money and a bank bag from a previous robbery.
The cousin declined. Later, he found a brown bag containing money behind his screen door.
Authorities declined to say how much was taken in all the robberies.
