A woman has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly robbing a Tampa credit union on Sept. 17 and making a bomb threat. Tampa Police reported that Maria Montesino, 42, entered the Grow Financial Credit Union, located in the 1700 block of North Oregon Avenue, around 2:34 p.m. and demanded money from a teller.
Montesino claimed that a man outside the building had ordered her to carry out the robbery and threatened that he would detonate a bomb if the teller did not comply. Fearing for safety, the teller handed over an undisclosed amount of money, and Montesino fled the scene.
Arrest and Investigation
Detectives quickly tracked Montesino to a nearby apartment complex and arrested her around 4:30 p.m. Upon further investigation, authorities found no evidence supporting her claim of another individual being involved or the presence of an explosive device.
Montesino was transported to the Orient Road Jail, where she was charged with three felonies:
- Robbery of $750 or more but less than $20,000
- False report of a bomb, explosive, or weapon of mass destruction
- Threatening to discharge a destructive device
Legal Proceedings
Authorities have not released additional information regarding a potential accomplice. Montesino remains in custody pending further investigation.
