BEAUMONT, Texas — An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty Thursday to a March bank robbery in Hull.
Aaron Gonzalez, of LaPorte, stood before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn and pleaded guilty to a charge of "bank robbery by force or intimidation" according to a news release for the U.S. Attorney's office.
Gonzalez, who left the bank with about $7,350 in cash, was arrested the day after the robbery in La Porte.
He walked into the Texas First Bank on FM 834 and handed a threatening note to the teller the release said.
Surveillance video and witness accounts describing him and his vehicle led to Gonzales's arrest according to the release.
Gonzales was indicted nearly a month later in April 2019 by a federal grand jury.
If convicted he could face up to a 20 year sentence in federal prison according to the release.
From a U.S. Attorney's Office news release...
An 18-year-old LaPorte, Texas man has pleaded guilty to bank robbery in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Aaron Gonzalez pleaded guilty to charges of bank robbery by force or intimidation before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on May 16, 2019.
According to information presented in court, on Mar. 6, 2019, Gonzalez robbed the Texas First Bank on FM 834 in Hull, Texas by entering the bank and presenting a threatening note to a bank teller. Gonzalez left the bank with approximately $7,350.00 in cash. Video surveillance and witness accounts of the bank robber and his vehicle led to Gonzalez’ arrest. Gonzalez was indicted by a federal grand jury on Apr. 3, 2019
Under the federal statute, Gonzalez faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the LaPorte Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Rawls.