A 20-year-old Venezuelan immigrant living in Sandusky, Ohio attempted to rob a bank earlier this month by using a translator app on his smartphone to express his demands because of his inability to speak English.
The bizarre international incident occurred on Apr. 4, an hour before lunch. A man alerted the police that a suspect was trying to steal money. Security footage from the bank’s closed-circuit surveillance cameras showed the man holding up his phone to the tellers with translated demands in English to “get the money” and “put the money in the bag.”
Venezuelan national attempts to rob bank by typing demands into translator app. He was promptly arrested after leaving empty handed.
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 12, 2024
Learning English may improve immigrants’ job prospects after they move to a new country. This immigrant found that learning the local language is necessary even for a life of crime. The tellers ignored his demands. They could not take him seriously. According to Fox8, a local Ohio Fox affiliate, the immigrant left the bank empty-handed.
Sandusky Police Chief Jared Oliver said the Venezuelan immigrant may be in the country illegally, expressing his disbelief at some of the facts related to the case.
“I have been in law enforcement for over 20 years and this is the first time I encountered something like this, someone using a translator app to try and rob a bank,” Oliver said after the bizarre attempted robbery. “First time our officers have dealt with it too.
These people are IDIOTS.
A Venezuelan who came to America ILLEGALLY recently tried to rob a bank in Sadusky, Ohio.
Too bad he couldn’t speak English and had to type "give me your money" on a translator app.
The cops came by the time he was done.
— E (@ElijahSchaffer) April 12, 2024
Authorities apprehended the man and identified him as Yeixon Brito-Gonzalez. During questioning, he admitted to recently losing his job and said that he did not try to rob anyone, but merely asked the bank employees to put money inside a bag. But authorities are charging him with attempted robbery, attempted theft and criminal trespassing.
Federal officials have placed a hold on Brito-Gonzalez for additional questioning related to his immigration status because authorities believe he may be in the country illegally. “It has been brought to my attention customs and border control put a hold on him,” Oliver said.
The government is currently holding Brito-Gonzalez at the Erie County Jail, where police were able to identify the Venezuelan national through an FBI fingerprint database.
