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Update on Arrest of Bank Robbery Suspects

May 15, 2006 -- Two suspects have been arrested and charged in a bank robbery inside a grocery store at 600 Kingwood Drive about 12:50 p.m. on May 1.

The suspects are identified as James Valentinis-Dee (w/m, DOB 5-20-75) and his girlfriend, Dana Lawson (w/f, DOB 8-31-68). Both are in custody and were transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

Dee was identified after surveillance photos of him were released to the media on May 2.

HPD Sergeants J. B. Whitely and D. Ryza assigned to the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force reported:

Suspect Valentinis-Dee walked into the Randall's store located at 600 Kingwood Drive and handed a note to the teller at the Wells Fargo Bank which read, "this is a robbery." The suspect told the teller to place the money on the counter. After getting the money, the suspect walked out of the store and got into a light colored pickup truck.

Investigators learned Valentinis-Dee and Lawson also robbed banks in Crockett, Dallas, and Hutchins, Texas, as well as in Many, Louisiana. The couple was arrested in Willis, Texas, last Friday (May 12) by members of a combined task force of Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Houston Bank Robbery Task Force. During the arrests, investigators recovered narcotics, and cash and items that had been bought with proceeds from the bank robberies.

Update JFC/MES 5-15-06
MES/NJM 5-2-06
Inc. #067979706

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.