Three young boys, aged 11, 12, and 16, and dubbed Houston’s “Little Rascals,” have been arrested by the FBI for allegedly robbing a Wells Fargo bank.
According to FBI Houston officials, three juvenile boys were taken into custody and are now facing charges in connection with a bank robbery last week. The three boys first made headlines when authorities shared on social media that they were wanted.
The Houston FBI office said that on Thursday (March 14), the trio, comprised of an 11-year-old, a 12-year-old, and a 16-year-old, allegedly robbed a Wells Fargo bank in North Houston. The incident occurred just after 3 p.m. at the Wells Fargo on the North Freeway at West Road, which sits in the Greenspoint area.
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FBI officials said that the three young men allegedly threatened a bank teller, and were believed to be armed. However, witnesses, who assumed the boys were between the ages of 14 and 18, said that they didn’t see any weapons being drawn or any in their possession. The trio then fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.
After the three boys were accused of robbing the Wells Fargo bank, the FBI posted their photos to social media and asked for help in identifying and catching the suspects, deemed the “Little Rascals.” Speaking with ABC13, Mike Schneider, a retired juvenile district court judge, said, “The age of the younger two, that’s unusual for a bank robbery. It’s one of the first times I’ve seen that.”
Schneider continued, “I was thinking either this was very low in sophistication or maybe an adult had something to do with this. That is not uncommon. Because kids have a punishment that is less severe, it is not uncommon for adult offenders to get them to commit crimes.”
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It’s reported that both FBI Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) are working to solve the case. However, while FBI Houston released the surveillance photos, the Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation. Per HCSO, once FBI Houston released the photos, HCSO began receiving tips from the public.
Reportedly, two of the three boys’ parents came forward and identified them. The third boy was later identified and taken into custody after being handled by another law enforcement agency following a fight. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, authorities ended up recovering a weapon and a distinctive item pictured in one of the surveillance photos released by FBI Houston.
Authorities have reported that the “Little Rascals” are being charged with robbery by threat, a second-degree felony.
It has not been disclosed whether any cash was recovered or if anyone else was involved in the incident. However, if the three boys are found guilty, they could face probation until they turn 18 or face juvenile prison until the age of 19, per a criminal defense attorney. The attorney claims that the 16-year-old could also be charged as an adult, but it is not likely.
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