FBI: Unemployed Woman Arrested in Northeast Bank Robbery

The “man” the FBI was looking for in connection with a bank robbery Tuesday in Northeast El Paso turned out to be a woman.

Working off of an anonymous tip, agents arrested 41-year-old Maria Del Carmen Castaneda, who is accused of robbing the Wells Fargo Bank about 4:30 p.m.at 4600 Woodrow Bean.

Investigators said a man who appeared to have white makeup on his face and was wearing white latex gloves handed the teller a note that said “this is a robbery.” The robber did not show a weapon.

After taking the money, the robber ran away towards an apartment complex across the street, investigators said. The robber was described as a white man between 25 and 30 years-old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a medium build, wearing blue jeans, a black shirt, a black hat and dark sunglasses.

The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes El Paso police officers and sheriff’s deputies, handled the case.

Castaneda, who investigators said is unemployed, was arrested without incident and is being held at the El Paso County Jail on suspicion of bank robbery.