Oakland Man Charged in Bank Robberies

<p><strong>OAKLAND<&sol;strong> – Naikano Tuipulotu made his initial appearance in court on February 15&comma; 2024&comma; to face charges of committing a series of bank robberies in the East Bay&comma; announced United States Attorney Ismail J&period; Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation&comma; Special Agent in Charge Robert K&period; Tripp&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>According to the complaint affidavit&comma; from October 23&comma; 2023&comma; through January 13&comma; 2024&comma; Tuipulotu&comma; 30&comma; of Oakland&comma; robbed three banks and attempted to rob two others&comma; each in Alameda County&period; During the robberies and attempted robberies&comma; Tuipulotu passed handwritten notes stating that he had a gun and demanded money from bank tellers&period; The criminal complaint charges Tuipulotu with bank robbery&comma; in violation of 18 U&period;S&period;C&period; § 2113&lpar;a&rpar;&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Tuipulotu was arrested on February 14&comma; 2024&comma; and made his initial appearance in federal court in Oakland the following day&period; Tuipulotu remains in custody pending further proceedings in the case&period; Tuipulotu’s next scheduled appearance is at 10&colon;30 a&period;m&period; on February 21&comma; 2024&comma; for status regarding detention before U&period;S&period; Magistrate Judge Kandis A&period; Westmore&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed&comma; and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt&period; If convicted&comma; the defendant faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a fine of &dollar;250&comma;000&comma; plus restitution if appropriate&comma; for a single violation of 18 U&period;S&period;C&period; § 2113&lpar;a&rpar;&period; However&comma; any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U&period;S&period; Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence&comma; 18 U&period;S&period;C&period; § 3553&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Assistant U&period;S&period; Attorney Jonah Ross is prosecuting the case&period; The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the San Leandro&comma; Fremont&comma; and Hayward Police Departments&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;