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Samoan man in Alaska charged with bank robbery

U.S. Dept. of Justice Alaska logo
reporters@samoanews.com

Anchorage, ALASKA — A Samoan man residing in Alaska will go on trial early next year at the federal court in Anchorage for robbing a bank of more than $2,000, according to court records.

Totoe Opeti Sakaria, Jr., 22, was first charged in a federal felony complaint filed Dec. 9th but 10 days later on Dec. 19th a federal grand jury charged him with bank robbery, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court documents. (The indictment notes that Sakaria was convicted Oct. 4, 2019 with vehicle theft first degree at the Alaska State Superior Court).

Also charged is co-defendant Brandon David McDonald, 23, of Anchorage, who faces one count of accessory after the fact to bank robbery.

Court records show that the defendants appeared Dec. 20th before US District Court Judge Matthew McCrary Scoble for arraignment, and both entered ‘not guilty’ pleas to the charges against them.

The defendants remain in custody, but court records don’t provide details on whether they are being held by the US Marshals Service or at a federal prison.

Jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2020 before US District Court Senior Judge Ralph R. Beistline.

According to documents filed in the case, it was Dec. 4, 2019 that two masked men entered the Wells Fargo Bank in Anchorage and ordered the security guard and bank manager to get on the ground. One of the men approached a teller and demanded money, obtaining $2,624 while the other man held a shotgun and demanded that everyone get — and stay — on the ground.

Sakaria and McDonald were identified as suspects through still photos from bank surveillance footage released to the public Dec. 4th. A separate court affidavit states that authorities received multiple calls from people who identified the subjects as Sakaria, also known as “TJ”, and McDonald.

On Dec. 6, 2019, FBI special agents recovered the shotgun from the crawl-space of a residence associated with McDonald, who informed authorities - when questioned -  that he had the gun from Sakaria and where it was hidden.

McDonald is quoted in an affidavit filed with court that he “participated in the robbery as driver”, and Sakaria gave him $2,000 in cash and left. If convicted, Sakaria faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in federal prison, for the most serious charges alleged, according to prosecutors in a national news release.

McDonald however faces a maximum penalty of up to 12.5 years in federal prison for the charge alleged. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, any sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Federal prosecutors note that the charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.