Man Gets 8 Years In Prison After Robberies In CV, Bay Area

CASTRO VALLEY, CA — An Oakland man will go to prison for eight years after committing armed bank robberies throughout the Bay Area, including at the US Bank in Castro Valley, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Duane Kurt Makela, 50, pulled the Castro Valley heist on Dec. 23, 2018.

He admitted to receiving $69,000 from 19 robberies or attempted robberies throughout the Bay Area, in places such as Palo Alto, Orinda, San Ramon, South San Francisco, Oakland and more, according to the Department of Justice. Makela admitted as part of his plea that in each case, he brandished what looked like a handgun and demanded money.

U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Breyer ordered Makela to pay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release.

Sixteen police departments and sheriff's offices throughout the Bay Area assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigations with the case.

Makela was arrested April 30, jail records show. Makela is in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.