U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact
Deborah McCarley 602-650-3201

March 29 , 2006

BANK EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR ROBBERY

Acting Special Agent in Charge, Keith Bennett, of the FBI Phoenix, Division announced today, April 25, 2006, the arrest of Candace Tooze, age 23, and Cecillia Herzberg, age 19, in connection with a March 7, 2006 robbery of a federally insured bank located in the 3000 block of South 48 th Street Phoenix, Arizona. Both are accused of bank robbery in violation of Title 18, Sections 2113 (a) and Section 2.

Tooze, who had been employed at the bank five months prior to the robbery, reported that on the morning of March 7, 2006 an unknown male forced her into the bank vault and had her provide access to U. S. currency held in an Automated Teller Machine. As another bank employee arrived for work, that employee was forced to assist Tooze in obtaining the remainder of currency located in the vault. Although Tooze had indicated the robber was a male, the second employee and surveillance video indicated the robber was possibly female.

Through traditional investigative efforts and the experience of agents and Phoenix Police Detectives investigating this case, information was developed indicating that Tooze and her sister, Herzberg, conspired together to rob the bank. Tooze, having inside knowledge of the bank’s opening procedures and surveillance capabilities, simulated the robbery having her sister pose as the robber.