Suburban Man Arrested for Bank Robberies in Loop
CHICAGO — Jason Paniagua, a suburban man, is facing federal bank robbery charges after allegedly robbing a Citibank branch in the Loop twice within a span of two weeks. The FBI was able to identify Paniagua after the first robbery but did not apprehend him until he struck the bank at 69 West Washington for the second time on Tuesday morning.
During the first robbery on March 27 at around 12:39 p.m., Paniagua reportedly demanded money from the teller, instructing them to give him everything in the top drawer in three seconds. He managed to steal $340 from the main teller drawer, mainly comprising $50 and $100 bills.
Following the robbery, Paniagua allegedly changed his pants inside a nearby synagogue and discarded other clothing items near the bank’s entrance. He then sought assistance from a hotel doorman to secure a cab ride back to the suburbs.
After being dropped off at a motel in Lansing under the alias “Joseph A. Diniggued,” Paniagua was recognized by a liquor store clerk and a cab driver who had interacted with him. The FBI was alerted to his whereabouts through these interactions, leading to his eventual arrest.
Despite being identified and questioned by law enforcement the day after the initial robbery, Paniagua returned to the same bank on Tuesday morning. This time, he demanded money from a teller at gunpoint, making off with $100 in $5 bills. The bank manager followed Paniagua and alerted the authorities, resulting in his swift arrest.
Upon apprehension, Paniagua was found in possession of stolen money, with additional funds recovered from the cab driver who unwittingly accepted them as fare payment. Paniagua confessed to the second robbery, attributing his actions to losing his job at Walmart, but denied involvement in the first incident.
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