Wendell man sentenced to 11 years for armed bank robbery in Zebulon

A federal judge sentenced a Wendell man to 11 years in prison for an armed bank robbery.

A jury convicted Victor Perez, 24, in November 2025.

“Crime doesn’t pay,” U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said in a news release. “If you try to steal money from a bank while terrorizing the nice employees and innocent customers, you deserve to go to prison for a long time.”

On Feb. 7, 2024, Perez entered the PNC Bank in Zebulon wearing a ski mask with a distinctive pattern, a black jacket, gray pants, black latex gloves, lavender Crocs and a black handgun, according to court records and evidence presented at trial.

The U.S. Justice Department said Perez walked up to a teller, waved the handgun in her face and demanded money while pointing the gun at her. As the teller gathered the money, Perez threatened to shoot her fingers off.

Perez sped off with the stolen loot. About three weeks later, law enforcement conducted a search warrant on Perez’s home and car.  They recovered the distinctive patterned mask, and matching black jacket, grey pants, black latex gloves, lavender crocs and a black handgun.  Officers also seized Perez’s phone.  Forensic analysis of that phone placed it at the bank during the robbery.