| Inmate name: | Farouk David Odariko |
| Charge description: | A jury convicted and sentenced Farouk David Odariko to 25 years in prison on four counts of Aggravated Robbery April 10, 2014 after a weeklong trial. The 26 year-old Houston man was indicted along with six co-defendants for robbing a bank in October 2011. According to Assistant District Attorney Matthew Banister, Odariko and six accomplices planned to rob the IBC Bank at West Belfort and Highway 6 on October 6, 2011 after meeting at a Holiday Inn Express. Surveillance cameras captured the suspects leaving the hotel together with the defendant a Forum Park Crip gang member known as Spook. Later in the afternoon, Odariko entered the bank to inquire about an account while looking around for cameras and security. He abruptly left to meet his co-conspirators who were waiting in a nearby neighborhood. Ten minutes later, four armed robbers crashed the teller line using firearms provided by the defendant and steal several thousand dollars. In less than a minute, the robbers fled the bank, dropped the tracking device out of the stolen money, and met up with Odariko in a getaway vehicle. Odariko was prosecuted in the 400th District Court before Presiding Judge Clifford J. Vacek. Aggravated Robbery is a first-degree felony punishable by 5-99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. But because Odariko had a prior felony conviction, the minimum sentence available was 15 years. He must serve at least one-half of his sentences before being considered for parole. All six of Odarikos co-defendants had previously pleaded guilty. The four sentences will be served concurrently under Texas state law. Assistant District Attorneys Matthew Banister and Jason Bennyhoff prosecuted the case. Attorney James Stevens represented the defendant. |
| Booking location: | Fort Bend County, TX |
