The FBI and federal prosecutors said Wednesday they solved the cold case of a fatal credit union robbery on Aug. 12, 2003 in Webster, N.Y.

U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. in Rochester said Richard Leon Wilbern, 56, of Rochester, N.Y., was arrested and charged with the credit union robbery that resulted the death of Raymond Batzel who was a member of the Xerox Federal Credit Union, which is now the Xceed Financial Credit Union based in El Segundo, Calif. Another member, Joseph Doud, was also shot and seriously injured.

If convicted, Wilbern can be sentenced to life in prison or death.

Federal investigators broke the case by collecting DNA samples left behind at the credit union branch.

Last March, the FBI held a press conference with enhanced digital photos of the alleged robber in hopes of new leads. It worked.

A person recognized Wilbern in the new photos and contacted the FBI. From July 2015 to April 2016, Wilbern made five calls to the FBI public access line to report a suspected real estate scam and the impending foreclosure of his property.

The FBI contacted Wilbern who agreed to meet federal investigators to discuss the real estate scheme. In July, Wilbern was asked by investigators to sign paperwork about the investigation and seal it in an envelope, which he did by licking the envelope.

FBI agents secured the envelope in an evidence bag for DNA testing and comparison at the Medical Examiner's office in New York City. The DNA taken from the umbrella Wilbern left at the branch matched his DNA on the envelope.

“Coming after 13 long years, this arrest is a tribute to the dogged perseverance of law enforcement, and the prayers and support of victims, surviving family members, and the public,” U.S. Attorney Hochul said.

“We at Xceed Financial Credit Union are grateful for the FBI and Crime Stoppers and their efforts to bring closure to this tragic event in our organization's history,” Xceed Financial CU President/CEO Teresa Y. Freeborn, said. “We applaud the dedication and coordinated efforts of law enforcement, Crime Stoppers and the community for serving justice to the families effected by the events of August 12, 2003.”

On that day more than 13 years ago at approximately 9:45 a.m., Wilbern allegedly walked into Xerox Federal Credit Union on the Xerox Corporation campus at 800 Phillips Road in Webster, NY. He was wearing a dark blue nylon jacket with the letters “FBI” written in yellow on the back of the jacket, sunglasses and a wig. He was also carrying a large briefcase, a green and gray-colored umbrella, and had what appeared to be a U.S. Marshal's badge hanging on a chain around his neck.

Wilbern allgedly went into the cubicle of a female employee and told the employee that he was there to conduct a security assessment and to stage a robbery. He then removed two firearms from the briefcase – a handgun and a sawed-off shotgun. Wilbern also removed a bag and instructed the employee to fill the bag with money from behind the teller counter. The employee complied with the demands.

Shortly after, Wilbern ordered employees and customers to lie down on the floor. While doing so, he confronted a customer, Raymond Batzel, who had finished a banking transaction with the teller.

After a very brief verbal altercation, Wilbern allegedly shot Batzel in the neck, which resulted in his death. As Wilbern shot Batzel, a second member, Joseph Doud, entered the credit union and attempted to turn and run back outside after witnessing the shooting. The defendant shot and wounded Doud in the back as he fled.

According to police reports, Wibern returned to the teller counter holding the firearm and instructed credit union employees to fill the bag with cash. He grabbed the money and fled the credit union leaving behind the umbrella.

In March 2016, an FBI press conference was held to seek new leads in the investigation. Details of the crime were released as well as photographs of Wilbern allegedly committing the robbery.

An unidentified citizen contacted the FBI and indicated that the person who committed the crime was likely a former Xerox employee named Richard Wilbern and recognized him from the FBI photos.

Federal investigators determined that the Wilbern, employed by Xerox between September 1996 and February 23, 2001, was terminated for repeated employment related infractions.

Investigators also confirmed that that in August 2000, Wilbern filed a lawsuit against Xerox alleging that the company unlawfully discriminated against him with respect to the terms and conditions of his employment, subjected him to a hostile work environment, failed to hire him for a position for which he applied because of his race, and retaliated against him for complaining about Xerox's discriminatory treatment. The investigation also determined that the defendant maintained checking and savings accounts at Xerox Federal Credit Union.

A criminal background check also showed that Wilbern was previously convicted for robbing a First National Bank of Rochester branch in Irondequoit, N.Y. in September 1980. He pled guilty and served on year in prison, according to court documents.

Instant Insights /

FBI Solves Fatal Credit Union Robbery Cold Case

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