Bank Robber Lands Second Conviction For Lake County Heist

ROUND LAKE, IL — A federal jury found a convicted bank robber guilty of robbing another bank this past week.

Francisco Martinez, 32, was convicted Monday on one count of bank robbery in connection with the Dec. 20, 2021, robbery at the First Midwest Bank branch in Round Lake. During the robbery, Martinez went into the bank and handed the teller a folded pice of paper that read "40K, 30 seconds, no tricks, go now," according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois.

Martinez then raised his shirt, revealing what appeared to be the handle of a firearm tucked into his waistband, according to a news release.

He also briefly grabbed a customer and threatened to take her with him from the bank. The teller complied with Martinez’s demands and handed him cash before Martinez fled the bank, according to the news release.

Martinez was arrested in June 2022 and has remained in custody since then. At the time of his arrest, he was on court-supervised release following a prior bank robbery conviction.

Martinez is next expected in court on August 29, and he could face up to 20 years in federal prison.