LOS ANGELES (AP) - A former Bank of America manager and her boyfriend have been found guilty of stealing more than a half-million dollars from an East Los Angeles branch by pretending the woman had a bomb taped to her body.
A federal jury convicted Aurora Barrera and Reyes Vega on Monday of bank robbery and conspiracy. Each faces up to 30 years in prison.
Barrera claimed she’d been kidnapped and forced to wear the device when she convinced a co-worker to help her empty the vault back in 2012.
Authorities say the bomb was a realistic fake.
Barrera was assistant branch manager at the time. She and Vega stole about $565,000 - most of which still hasn’t been recovered.
Two co-defendants pleaded guilty in the case and testified for the prosecution.
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