According to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, a 34-year-old Dallas woman has been indicted for allegedly committing a string of bank robberies.
Patricia Maldonado was indicted on three counts of bank robbery in early February after a criminal complaint was filed last month.
The complaint accused her of robbing at least three Dallas banks in the fall of 2019 before she was recognized by a concerned citizen who saw a surveillance image of the suspect in a press release.
According to the complaint, Maldonado would enter a bank, hand the tellers a note demanding money, and state that she had a gun before fleeing on foot with the cash.
On one occasion, the suspect was captured on camera running to a silver Jeep Patriot parked at a nearby gas station.
Following the tip from the concerned citizen, law enforcement analyzed Maldonado’s social media presence and noticed the similarities between her and the suspect caught on the surveillance image.
Police then found a photo of Maldonado on her Facebook page where she was wearing a sweatshirt identical to one worn by the suspect on the surveillance footage.
Law enforcement also found multiple pictures of Maldonado on her sister’s Facebook page showing her posing with her sister’s silver Jeep Patriot.
Police arrested Maldonado at her place of employment on January 29.
According to the announcement, Maldonado positively identified herself in the surveillance images from all robberies after being advised of her Miranda rights.
Maldonado is accused of robbing Chase Bank on Mockingbird Lane, Comerica Bank on Fort Worth Avenue, and Chase Bank on Coit Road.
At a detention hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver ordered Maldonado detained pending her trial, which is set for April 11.
If found guilty, Maldonado could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
