A California man, Eric Walter Gray, 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly robbing a bank and taking three people hostage in Anaheim last month. Gray, who had been released from state custody at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center just a day before the incident, is facing charges of bank robbery and forced accompaniment.
According to the Department of Justice, Gray entered the BMO bank branch in Anaheim on May 8, jumped over the teller counter, claimed to have a gun, and demanded money. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, he ordered the bank manager and two employees into a storage room. While the employees were eventually released, the manager was held hostage for about an hour.
Law enforcement was alerted during the robbery, and Gray was arrested without incident as he exited the storage room with the bank manager. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating that his office will prosecute violent recidivist criminals who pose a threat to the community.
Gray was taken to the hospital for a scan, where he allegedly attempted to escape multiple times and engaged in physical altercations with police officers, resulting in injuries. Authorities also discovered cash and narcotics hidden inside Gray's body.
The FBI's Los Angeles Field Office commended the courage of the bank employees who notified the police, leading to the rescue of the hostages. Gray, currently held without bond, will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana on June 24. If convicted, he could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years.
