ATLANTA – The FBI has released the name of a suspect who is believed to be the so-called "Freedom Fighter Bandit."
Nilsa Marie Urena, 25, is facing state charges related to a robbery at the Bank of Ozarks in Douglasville and the Georgia's Own Credit Union in Loganville.
On Nov. 3, Urena and an unidentified man entered a Bank of Ozarks in Douglasville where they told a teller they had an explosive device and would detonate it if they did not give them the money, according to the FBI. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, they left without further incident.
The same day, Urena and 17-year-old Devon Morris walked into the Georgia's Own Credit Union in Loganville and gave a teller a note that demanded money and stated Urena had a bomb. When they received the money, the two suspects got into a waiting SUV being driven by a 16-year-old suspect, police said.
The robberies in both Douglasville and Loganville led police to believe the crimes were related.
Officers in Douglas County arrested Morris and the 16-year-old driver. Morris is currently in Douglas County Jail and the juvenile is in a local youth detention facility. Along with Urena, Morris has an active warrant for one count of robbery and the juvenile has been charged with robbery on a juvenile complaint form. Police said once their charges are resolved in Douglas County, the two will be transferred to Gwinnett County Jail.
Urena is believed to be connected to at a series of other bank robberies and an attempted bank robbery across Georgia.
Earlier in the day on Nov. 3, a woman fitting the description of Urena and a man entered the Georgia’s Own Credit Union in Grayson. The woman announced a robbery via a demand note and after obtaining the money, she and the man left without incident, according to the FBI.
On Oct. 30 around 10 in the morning, a woman fitting Urena’s description attempted to rob a Wells Fargo bank in Stone Mountain. She displayed to the teller a “demand” note that was on her cell phone and when she was denied the money, she left the bank without further incident.
Just an hour later, the woman entered the Associated Credit Union in Ellenwood and again demanded money with a demand note that stated she had an explosive device that would go off at any time. The note also stated the suspect was robbing the bank “for the movement” and “for the streets.”
Once she received the money, the suspect walked about but returned and requested the demand note she left with the teller. Once she got the note, the suspect thanked the teller and left the bank without further incident.
The FBI believes they've located Urena's Facebook profile where she states she is lives in Philadelphia but is originally from Panama. Throughout her Facebook page, Urena has posted anti-government and anti-Trump messages calling him “Hitler blonde” and stating “history lied. It’s about to happen.”
The FBI described Urena as being a being a black female, late 20’s to mid-30’s in age, approximately 5’7” in height, slender build, long black hair.
If you know the whereabouts of Urena, you are asked to contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.
