Utah Man Claims $19K Casino Loss Forced Him to Rob Bank With Fake Bomb

A Utah man claims threats against his family over a $19,000 gambling loss at a Nevada casino forced him to rob a credit union using a fake bomb, according to court documents.

After his arrest, Fidel Ybarra told investigators that Thomas Domingo Bustos picked him up on the morning of the robbery and instructed him to “rob a bank” to settle a debt Bustos believed he was owed.

Bustos, Ybarra, and Brelyn Sanchez, the alleged getaway driver, pleaded not guilty Friday, Oct. 2, to federal charges of credit union robbery and conveying false information about an explosive device.

On Sept. 4, Ybarra entered an America First Credit Union branch in South Salt Lake wearing dark clothing and carrying a backpack, according to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) affidavit. He handed a teller a note demanding cash and claiming an explosive device was inside the bag.

Ybarra then allegedly unzipped the backpack to show the teller what appeared to be an improvised bomb.

Fearing the device could detonate, the teller handed over $1,234. Ybarra then fled to a waiting Dodge Durango driven by Sanchez, according to federal prosecutors.

Fake Device and Gambling Debt

During interrogation, Ybarra told investigators that Bustos held him responsible for a $19,000 gambling loss at a casino in West Wendover, Nevada, and threatened him and his family.

According to the affidavit, Bustos assembled the fake explosive at an apartment in Murray, Utah, using fireworks wrapped in black duct tape. Bustos then allegedly dictated the text Ybarra wrote on the robbery note.

Ybarra told agents that after Sanchez drove him back to the apartment, Bustos took the entire $1,234 proceeds. Ybarra subsequently discarded his shirt, gloves, and hat in a nearby dumpster.

Sanchez told authorities Ybarra had mentioned owing Bustos $9,000 prior to the incident, but claimed she was unaware Ybarra intended to rob the credit union.

Federal Indictment

Investigators linked Bustos to the crime scene using surveillance footage showing his red BMW near the credit union, along with cellular location data placing his phone in the immediate area.

Bustos initially denied involvement in the robbery, claiming he was in the vicinity to purchase narcotics, according to the affidavit.

A federal grand jury subsequently indicted all three defendants on one count of credit union robbery and one count of conveying false information and hoaxes regarding the fake explosive.

All three defendants remain in federal custody pending trial.