The “Let’s Talk” sign above a video-linked ATM in the lobby of the Advantis Credit Union in Southeast Portland invites customers to interact with a remote teller.
A woman recently picked up the handset, connected to a call center staffer in Oregon City and then threatened to harm others in the credit union if the interactive teller machine didn’t spit out thousands of dollars right away.
“You have thirty seconds to send me five grand in all big bills or the next person coming in or out of here is gonna get hurt,” the stranger threatened, according to an FBI agent.
As the teller at the call center counted out bills, the woman demanded, “Hurry up!”
Danielle Mae Hammond, 36, is now accused of federal bank robbery and made a brief appearance on the charge Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland.
Hammond was identified partly by the distinctive star tattoo on her left hand caught on video surveillance, as well as a latent fingerprint lifted from the credit union machine that matched the fingerprint from Hammond’s middle finger on her right hand, FBI agent Kevin Strauss wrote in a federal affidavit.
The FBI alleges Hammond walked off with $4,500 from the credit union in the May 21 heist. The other employees in the credit union were unaware there had been a robbery until Hammond had fled on foot, according to investigators.
She was arrested last Sunday in Beaverton and transferred to the Portland Police Bureau, where an FBI agent attempted to interview her.
She refused to answer questions and “appeared to be asleep” during the interview, the affidavit said.
Hammond also faces several outstanding warrants, including for failure to appear on theft charges in Clackamas County and a trespass allegation in Multnomah County. She has prior convictions for identity theft, harassment, criminal mischief and assault in Oregon.
Hammond is being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center and is due back in federal court Thursday afternoon.
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