Citizen Staff Report
Hand-grenade bank robbery nets 33-plus years in prison
A Tucson man was sentenced to 33 1/2 years in prison for robbing a bank with a hand grenade.
Jeffrey Charles Hoagland, 40, was sentenced yesterday in Tucson by U.S. District Judge David C. Bury.
Hoagland was convicted of the April 2001 robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank branch at 5535 E. 22nd St.
He tried to disguise himself with a shoulder-length, curly black wig, authorities said.
Hoagland threatened a teller with a metallic green hand grenade, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Phoenix.
After getting an undisclosed amount of cash, Hoagland fled and was arrested a week later while driving a stolen car in Texas. The car’s owner notified Tucson police after finding a curly black wig in the car. Hoagland was identified as the robber by the teller.
He was convicted of bank robbery and carrying a destructive device in November.
Tucson police suspect Hoagland of several other robberies committed shortly before the April 2001 crime. Those incidents were at the Wells Fargo bank at 5310 E. Grant Road, the Bank of America at 5502 E. Grant Road and Compass Bank at 6393 E. Speedway Blvd.
Agents snare 60-plus migrants at motel
U.S. Border Patrol agents found more than 60 illegal immigrants in five motel rooms in Sierra Vista on Friday.
One immigrant was determined to be from Central America.
Agents followed a Chevrolet Beretta they suspected was involved in smuggling to Budget Inn, 201 W. Fry Blvd., in Sierra Vista, a Border Patrol news release stated.
Three people came out of a room and approached the car in the parking lot, where agents determined they were illegal immigrants from Mexico, officials said.
Questioning led agents to believe more illegal immigrants were hiding in the motel. A room search led to the others.
Three vehicles including the Beretta were seized.
- Citizen Staff Reports