UNITED STATES CHARGES NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER
WITH TWO MANHATTAN BANK ROBBERIES

MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, MARK J. MERSHON, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and RAYMOND W. KELLY, Police Commissioner of the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced today the filing of a Complaint against CHRISTIAN TORRES, an NYPD officer, charging him with committing two bank robberies in June and November 2007 in Manhattan. According to the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court:

On June 8, 2007, TORRES handed a teller at a branch of Sovereign Bank located at 57 Avenue A, New York, New York, a note. In the note, TORRES directed the teller to “empty both drawers,” and threatened to “start shooting.” TORRES robbed the bank of approximately $16,305.

On November 16, 2007, TORRES again robbed the Sovereign Bank at 57 Avenue A, approaching employees of the bank as they were opening the branch and ordering them to open the door. When one of the employees refused, TORRES threatened to kill the employee, and pulled back the side of his suit jacket to reveal the black handle of a gun that was tucked into his waistband.

Once inside the bank, TORRES stood behind the employees, telling them not to look at him and to walk to the vault in the back. TORRES ordered the employees to leave their cellular telephones on a table outside the vault, which they did, then to open the vault.

After the vault was opened, TORRES ordered one of the employees to tie up the legs of another employee using rope TORRES had brought with him. After retrieving latex gloves from a duffel bag he was carrying and putting on a black ski mask, TORRES instructed one of the employees to place currency inside the bag, stating that he wanted 100s, 50s, and 20s. The employee complied. TORRES then ordered the employees into the vault, took their keys, and told them to stay in the vault for ten minutes, adding that if one of them looked at him funny, he would be back. During the robbery, TORRES stole approximately $102,000.

TORRES was charged with two counts of robbery. The June 8, 2007, robbery count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The November 16, 2007, robbery count, which allegedly involved TORRES jeopardizing the life of another person through the use of a dangerous weapon, carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

TORRES, 21, of Queens, New York, is presently remanded in Pennsylvania on robbery charges. The Office will coordinate with authorities in Pennsylvania to arrange for TORRES to face the charges in the Southern District of New York announced today.

Mr. GARCIA praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorney DANIEL STEIN is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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