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2 plead guilty to stealing nearly $300,000 in Lake Mary bank robbery, officials say

LAKE MARY, Fla. — Two men accused in a Lake Mary bank robbery that netted them nearly $300,000 pleaded guilty Monday to charges of armed bank robbery, officials said.

Ricardo Rodriguez Jr., 24, is accused of going into a Wells Fargo bank armed with a handgun on Nov. 8 and forcing two employees to open the safe, court documents say.

He then restrained the employees and fled the bank with $295,000 in cash, investigators said.

After further investigation, authorities determined that Brandon Mojica, 23, helped Rodriguez plan the robbery by giving him information about the bank and its employees, court documents said.

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Lake Mary police spokeswoman Rebekah Matviak credited a quick call to 911 from someone inside the bank as the reason why Rodriguez was captured so quickly.

"Their quick reaction, (his or her) quick reaction, definitely helped us, helped the Lake Mary Police Department get in line and have officers established around the perimeter for us to secure the subject," Matviak said.

A responding officer got to the bank quickly enough to see the culprit leaving the building, Lake Mary police said.

After a brief foot chase, the suspected bank robber got into a car and drove off, officers said.

With the assistance of Seminole County sheriff's deputies and Sanford police, the suspect didn't get far, investigators said.

He crashed his car after hitting several other vehicles, police said.

Both men face up to 32 years in prison when they are sentenced later this year.