Florida Woman Makes Unusual Threat in Credit Union Branch Robbery

Maria Montesino allegedly robbed a Tampa, Fla., credit union branch with an unusual bomb threat.

At approximately 2:34 p.m., on Sept. 17, Montesino walked into the $3.6 billion Grow Financial Federal Credit Union branch on North Oregon Avenue and demanded money from the teller, according to a Tampa Police report.

The 42-year-old woman allegedly told a teller that a man, who was outside, instructed her to commit the robbery. Montesino also claimed that the man was in possession of a bomb that would be discharged if they did not give her the money.

In fear for her life, the teller provided Montesino with the cash and fled the credit union. Tampa police did not disclose the amount of money stolen.

After gathering evidence and developing leads, detectives quickly located Montesino at a nearby apartment complex, where she was taken into custody just before 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 17.

In their investigation, detectives did not find any evidence that supported Montesino’s claim of another person being involved or armed with an explosive device, police said.

Montesino was taken to a local jail and charged with three felonies: Robbery involving $750 or more but less than $20,000, false report of a bomb, explosive or weapon of mass destruction, and threatening to discharge a destructive device, police said.

Of the 1,362 robberies, burglaries and larcenies of financial institutions in 2023, only 106 were committed by women and 1,291 were committed by men, and an additional 255 persons of unknown race or sex, according to the latest statistics posted by the FBI. During the commission of these crimes, only 41 suspects used or threatened to use an explosive device.