An admitted bank robber also pleaded guilty Oct. 8 to holding up a shoe store in the Plaza Bonita Mall in National City.
Ryan W. Nelson, 38, of San Diego, faces a maximum 60 year sentence in federal prison for the hold-up at the Shoe Palace and two bank robberies in San Diego and La Mesa.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 11, 2021 before U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia Bashant.
Nelson pointed a gun at a pregnant worker at the Shoe Palace on July 29, 2019, stealing $600. He admitted he violated interstate commerce, which is why the case is in federal court.
Nelson first arrived at the shoe store at 8:45 a.m. and claimed he was a construction worker in the store above the Shoe Palace, according to his plea agreement. He said he needed to inspect an electrical breaker panel in a room at the back of the store.
He then went to the front of the store and approached the pregnant clerk with a gun. He took money from the cash register and a safe.
“Don’t call anyone or I will be back in five minutes!” Nelson was quoted as saying, according to records.
Once outside the mall, he removed his construction worker disguise, and changed his shirt from a backpack he had hidden outside the mall, records say.
Nelson pleaded guilty to robbing a U.S. Bank that was inside a Vons store at 6155 El Cajon Blvd on Aug. 15, 2019. He took $1,372.
Nelson also admitted to stealing $9,600 from the Wells Fargo Bank inside a Vons supermarket at 8011 University Ave. In La Mesa on Aug. 23, 2019. He got the money from three different tellers.
“These robberies were meticulously planned for maximum impact on the victims and maximum payout,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer in a statement.
“The threat of violence is a terrifying experience that these victims will never forget,” said Brewer.
Nelson was quoted as saying this to tellers in the La Mesa holdup: “Start with your 100s and put them in a bag, or I’ll start shooting.”
Court records say Nelson’s trolley pass was used after one robbery. Police searched his home and found a black .380 Smith & Wesson handgun, $2,030 in cash, and black sunglasses that was used in one hold-up.
“Robberies committed with the threat of violence and while using a firearm is a top priority for our agents and task force officers,” said FBI Special Agent Suzanne Turner.
“The bank tellers, store workers, and San Diego citizens have the right to be free from violent criminal acts that threaten the safety and security of our community,” said Turner.
After his arrest, Nelson confessed to two robberies, according to records.
Nelson remains in the Metropolitan Correctional Center on $100,000 bail.
