Suburban man robbed Loop bank 2x after losing his job at Walmart: FBI

Suburban Man Arrested for Federal Bank Robbery in Chicago Loop

CHICAGO — Jason Paniagua, a suburban man, is facing federal bank robbery charges after allegedly robbing a Citibank branch in the Loop twice in two weeks. The FBI identified Paniagua after the first robbery but only apprehended him after he committed the second robbery at 69 West Washington on Tuesday morning.

First Robbery

During the first robbery on March 27 at 12:39 p.m., Paniagua demanded money from the teller at gunpoint, managing to score $340 from the main drawer. He then changed his pants inside a nearby synagogue and discarded other clothing near the bank before enlisting the help of a hotel doorman to get a cab ride to the suburbs.

After dropping him off at a motel in Lansing, the cabbie and liquor store clerk identified Paniagua as the suspect, known as “Cracker Jack.” Motel surveillance footage showed Paniagua wearing distinctive clothing, linking him to the robbery.

Second Robbery

Paniagua returned to the same bank on Tuesday at 10:10 a.m. and demanded money from a teller, this time using a toilet paper tube as a fake weapon. The bank manager recognized him and alerted the authorities, leading to Paniagua’s arrest after he attempted to flee in a cab.

Officers recovered stolen money from Paniagua and the cab driver. Paniagua admitted to the second robbery, citing job loss as his motive, but denied involvement in the first robbery.

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