Feds Finger Bank Teller in Robberies

Despite growing concern about more sophisticated crimes, financial institutions still have to protect themselves from old-fashioned bank robberies.

Just ask the Department of Justice, which last week charged 20-year-old Christina Dasrath—a teller at a bank branch in New York City—in connection with a pair of apparent robberies.

According to the DOJ, Dasrath told a coconspirator how bank employees would respond to a robbery attempt and handed over cash during actual robberies.

From a Department of Justice press release:

On June 8, 2007, DASRATH's co-conspirator handed DASRATH a note directing DASRATH to "empty both drawers," and threatening to "start shooting." DASRATH complied by handing her co-conspirator approximately $16,305 from her teller drawer.

On November 16, 2007, DASRATH's co-conspirator again robbed the Sovereign Bank at 57 Avenue A, by displaying a gun to bank employees and threatening to kill an employee to gain entry to the bank, ordering the employees to bring him in to the vault in the back of the bank, and then having DASRATH fill a duffel bag with approximately $102,000 in cash.

After each robbery, DASRATH met with her co-conspirator to receive a portion of the stolen money, and covered up in interviews with investigators her knowledge of the identity of the person who committed the robberies.

Dasrath's charges include conspiracy to commit bank fraud. If she is convicted of all charges, Dasrath could face 60 years in prison.

Her alleged coconspirator was arrested earlier in Pennsylvania, according to United Press International.