'Cell Phone Bandit' Pleads Guilty

A young woman dubbed the "cell phone bandit" pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges that could put her behind bars for the rest of her life.

Candice R. Martinez, 19, entered guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Under a plea deal, the U.S. Attorney dropped four counts of bank robbery. Sentencing was set for March 3.

The plea was entered in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.

Martinez admitted conspiring with her boyfriend to rob four northern Virginia banks. In one of the robberies, a surveillance video captured her calmly talking on her cell phone while at the teller's cage, waiting for the money to be handed over. The tape was played repeatedly on TV worldwide.

In one case, Martinez pulled a .38 caliber revolver given to her by the boyfriend, Dave C. Williams.

The robberies netted the couple $48,620 from Oct. 12 to Nov. 4. Barely $4,770 has been recovered.

Williams, also 19, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Martinez on Dec. 1.

Martinez was arrested Nov. 15, just hours after police took Williams into custody. Dressed in a green jail uniform, Martinez said little in court Tuesday, other than to answer the judge's questions with a yes or no.

As part of their pleas, both Martinez and Williams will forfeit several big ticket items purchased with their ill-gotten gains, including a 1997 Acura Integra, a plasma TV, designer clothes and a bedroom set.