Two plead guilty, third charged in Las Cruces, Los Lunas bank robberies

LAS CRUCES — An accused bank robber pleaded guilty in federal district court last month to a pair of heists that took place in February. An accomplice has admitted guilt as well, while a second associate is facing trial.

Daniel Guereca, 29, admitted in court to robbing a U.S. Bank location in Los Lunas on Feb. 12, when prosecutors alleged he disguised himself with a hoodie and a mask and demanded money in a written note, making off with at least $6,000 in cash.

Then, on Feb. 20, Guereca entered a PNC Bank branch in Las Cruces, wearing a baseball cap, mask and sunglasses, as shown on security camera footage. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison's office said Guereca passed a note saying he was armed and demanding $20,000 in cash, but left abruptly with $3,313 in cash and left the note behind.

His fingerprints tied him to the demand note, the FBI stated in court documents, and video from the two robberies showed a figure of similar height and build as well as what appeared to be the same blue Honda CRV driving away from the locations. The car was found abandoned in Las Cruces, charging documents state, with Guereca's fingerprints inside along with clothing and a draft demand note. The vehicle had been reported stolen in Albuquerque.

Guereca faces up to 20 years in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced, followed by three years of supervised release.

Breanne Gallegos, 29, was accused in a separate criminal complaint of writing the demand note used in the Los Lunas robbery and driving the getaway car. She was also driving the vehicle in which Guereca was a passenger in Las Cruces when he was arrested on April 7, per court filings.

A search of Gallegos' phone discovered text messages she had sent, including a message to Guereca days before the Los Lunas robbery stating, "Danny I want to help you with the bank." On the day that message was sent, the phone was connected to the Honda's computer system via Bluetooth. Other text messages discussed going "fishing" at the location where the bank sits. The search also produced evidence of internet searches for news stories about the robberies, photographs of Guereca and a picture of pills an FBI agent described as possibly fentanyl pills.

Gallegos agreed to plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery in September. At sentencing, she faces up to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Aarika Cuevas, 35, also faces a charge of conspiracy to commit bank robbery for allegedly assisting Guereca with the Feb. 20 Las Cruces theft. FBI investigators state in charging documents that Cuevas wrote the demand note, drove the getaway car and entered the bank to assess the lobby, which prosecutors said was to check for security personnel, although Cuevas would tell investigators in an interview she was checking to see if an acquaintance was working there.

Cuevas is being held in custody ahead of her trial.