For Immediate Release: November 19, 2007

FUGITIVE COUPLE KNOWN AS "NEWLYWED BANDITS" WANTED FOR LOS ANGELES AREA BANK ROBBERIES, CAPTURED IN LAS VEGAS AFTER STREET ROBBERY, CARJACKING

A man and woman suspected in at least five bank robberies in Los Angeles were arrested last night after being taken into custody on unrelated charges by police in Las Vegas, announced Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Angeles Field Office. The couple known as the "Newlywed Bandits" had recently been identified by the FBI based on a tip received after bank surveillance photographs were distributed to the media. Rayceana Racheal Rocha, 22, and Paul Harlen Meyercamp, Jr., 26, were being sought as fugitives for the past several days and were tracked to the Las Vegas area. On the evening of 11/18, Meyercamp and Rocha were arrested by officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after they allegedly committed an armed carjacking and robbed a pedestrian at gunpoint. Police investigating the incidents were led on a foot pursuit after Rocha crashed the vehicle she was driving. Rocha and Meyercamp were taken into custody by officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The FBI took custody of Rocha and Meyercamp based on the outstanding federal warrants for their arrest in connection with the Los Angeles-area bank robberies. Meyercamp and Rocha were afforded an initial appearance before a federal magistrate in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas this afternoon and were remanded to the custody of federal authorities pending prosecution. The FBI is investigating whether or not Rocha and Meyercamp may have robbed any banks while in Las Vegas. The successful apprehension of Meyercamp and Rocha is the result of the efforts by officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The investigation into the various bank robberies which led to the identification of Meyercamp and Rocha, and warrants for their arrest, was conducted by the FBI in Los Angeles and Las Vegas; the El Monte Police Department; the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; the West Covina Police Department; the Azusa Police Department; the Claremont Police Department; and the La Habra Police Department.