A man accused of robbing the downtown Bank of Hawaii last Wednesday was on supervised release after serving time in federal prison for two 1995 bank robberies. Serial bank robber
back in jail
By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.comJay Robert Maruyama was recognized by his probation officer the next day after a bank surveillance camera photo of the robber was published by local media, according to FBI Special Agent Tyrone Arnold.
Maruyama surrendered to police Sept. 26 and admitted to the robbery, authorities said. He is currently in federal custody after prosecutors asked he be detained without bail.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marshall Silverberg said Maruyama is a danger to the community based on his history of committing bank robberies since 1991.
Maruyama, apparently a career offender, faces a maximum 20 years if convicted in the latest robbery.
Maruyama allegedly approached a teller at the downtown branch just after 7:40 a.m. and told her, "Give me the money, this is a robbery. You're gonna get hurt, hand me the money," according to an affidavit filed by Arnold in U.S. District Court. Maruyama allegedly fled with $1,941 in currency.
In 1995, U.S. District Judge David Ezra sentenced Maruyama to the maximum 89 months under federal guidelines for robbing the Ala Moana and Discovery Bay branches of Bank of Hawaii less than two weeks after he was released from prison for a 1991 bank robbery conviction.
Ezra imposed the maximum sentence at the time, saying bank robbery is a serious offense that poses a substantial danger to the community.
Maruyama had been accused of robbing the Kapiolani branch of City Bank and American Savings Bank in 1991. But he pleaded guilty only to the City Bank robbery under a plea agreement. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 11.
