Countywide : Suspect in Bank Robberies Arrested

A Ventura man wanted by the FBI in connection with as many as six bank robberies in Ventura County has been arrested by San Diego police, authorities said.

Peter Mendez Lopez, 30, was arrested Monday by officers in San Diego investigating local auto thefts.

After making an inquiry to the National Crime Information Center, San Diego police discovered that Lopez was wanted by the FBI on suspicion of robbing a Security Pacific Bank branch in Ventura on Aug. 20.

FBI officials said they were placing a federal detainer on Lopez while he is processed on suspicion of the thefts to ensure his return to face the bank robbery charges.

In an unrelated case, the FBI said Gary William Cameron, 36, of Oxnard has been convicted of bank robbery in connection with an Oct. 6 robbery at a Security Pacific Bank branch in Oxnard. He will be sentenced March 4 and faces a maximum of 20 years in jail and a possible $5,000 fine.

Federal officials dropped charges relating to a second robbery that Cameron had been indicted on in exchange for his guilty plea last week for the October heist, officials said.

Darryl Andre Young, 30, a transient, has also been indicted for participating in the Oct. 6 robbery with Cameron. A trial date for Young, who also faces 20 years in jail and a possible $5,000 fine, has not been set.