Fresno, California - Jose Valadez Jr., 35, of Patterson, was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison today for an armed bank robbery, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii sentenced Valadez to two years and 10 months in prison for armed bank robbery and a consecutive sentence of seven years in prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on June 19, 2014, Juan Carlos Reyes, 25, of Tracy, and Valadez robbed the Wells Fargo Bank located inside the Save Mart Supermarket in Patterson. Customers and employees were held at gunpoint as Reyes instructed tellers to “open the drawers” and demanded that money be placed in a bag. Reyes and Valadez fled the area separately with law enforcement in pursuit. Valadez was arrested shortly thereafter and assisted officers in locating the firearm and clothing he discarded after fleeing the scene of the robbery.

Officers located a firearm, clothing and the money stolen from the bank in another location. DNA evidence from the clothing provided law enforcement with Reyes’ identity. Reyes was arrested on October 11, 2014, in Manteca. Reyes pleaded guilty and was sentenced on October 19, 2015, to two years and six months in prison for armed bank robbery, and a consecutive sentence of seven years in prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Melanie L. Alsworth prosecuted the case.