ABQ RAW staff
Posted 2/24/2022 9:18AM
After a tip to authorities, Jason Smelter was identified as the serial bank robber who is accused of robbing five banks in the last month in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque Police detectives started observing Smelter’s place of residence. They were able to identify the getaway car from the robberies.
Alleged bank robber Jason Smelter in a robbery
On February 23rd, 2022, APD officers and detectives were able to perform a traffic stop and apprehend Smelter. According to the criminal complaint, the FBI was called to the scene and Smelter admitted to the robberies and did the robberies to pay for his drug habit. He gave details on the notes he handed tellers. He was apologetic and gave his statement because he felt it was the right thing to do.
Bank robbery carries a possible prison term of up to 20 years. The use of a gun, other dangerous weapon, toy gun, or hoax bomb device during the commission of a bank robbery can be punishable by a prison term of up to 25 years.