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SALT LAKE CITY (Gambling911.com) - Police have arrested a man who has since confessed to robbing a Salt Lake City credit union and also implicated two other individuals he claims were involved in the crime.
Fidel Ybarra says he was forced into committing the crime by Thomas Domingo Bustos, 31 while Brelyn Sanchez, 37, also allegedly participated. Both Bustos and Sanchez plead not guilty late last week.
Federal prosecutors say Ybarra, 52, of Riverdale, Utah, entered an America First Credit Union at 3499 S. State Street in South Salt Lake on September 4, 2026. He allegedly handed a teller a note demanding money and claiming there was an explosive device in his backpack. He then opened the backpack and displayed what appeared to be an improvised explosive device. The teller handed over $1,234.
Ybarra says he owed Bustos $19,000 in gambling debts, most of which was lost at a Wendover, Nevada casino. He claims that Bustos had threatened to harm his family members if the money was not paid back.
Ybarra escaped in a red Dodge Durango allegedly driven by Sanchez, but registered to Bustos. Another vehicle connected to the robbery, a red BMW, was also registered to Bustos, according to prosecutors.
Security camera footage captured both vehicles traveling together and court documents note that they identified several identifying features of the vehicles. On September 7, SSLPD Detectives were able to find the Dodge Durango, placing a tracking device on it after a search warrant was granted.
While surveilling the vehicle, police identified Sanchez, who met the description of the female driver of the Durango during the robbery. Sanchez was then interviewed at the police department. Sanchez allegedly confessed Bustos had met with her to discuss the robbery plans but that she was only asked to drive Ybarra around and to follow Bustos in his BMW.
Court documents claim she admitted to dropping off Ybarra near the credit union and believed he was going to collect money from a female that owed him money. Those documents read “Brelyn indicated she knew they were involved in criminal activity. A few minutes later, the suspect came running back to the Durango and jumped in the passenger side seat and told her to drive away.”
Ybarra alleges Bustos told him to rob the bank and even drove to Bustos’ cousin’s house to retrieve fireworks and duct tape that would appear to resemble an explosive device.
After the robbery, Ybarra says that Bustos “took all the money for himself” and that he threw his clothes in a dumpster though shoes were later retrieved at an apartment.
All three individuals have been federally indicted and appeared for an initial hearing this past Friday.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
