Authorities arrested and charged six suspects Saturday for robbing a bank in Wheaton.


Montgomery County police and FBI agents arrested 38-year-old David Mbom, 46-year-old Philippe Ngassa, 42-year-old Robert Tataw, 43-year-old Ernest Yossa, 40-year-old Elizabeth Tarke, and 38-year-old Edmond Machine late Friday night and early Saturday morning as part of a join investigation.

Investigators say one of the suspects impersonated a security guard and entered the BB&T Bank on the 11,500-block of Georgia Avenue last Wednesday. The suspect presented himself as a substitute guard and left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. When the regular guard arrived Thursday for the scheduled pick-up, he explained that the unknown man was not an employee and the authorities were called.

On Friday, search warrants were executed at the homes of two BB&T Bank employees. One of which was Tarke's Olney home after they established that she had direct contact with the bogus security guard. The investigation developed that suspect Mbom had visited Tarke's home and left in a vehicle driven by Tataw.

An extensive investigation was then conducted on Stewart Lane in Silver Spring where the five male suspects were taken into custody. Tarke was then arrested after it was determined that she was also involved in the theft.

Incidental to the arrests and execution of several search warrants, authorities say a large amount of the stolen money has since been recovered. However, the investigation remains on-going.

Mbom, Tataw, and Tarke have been charged with theft of currency over $500 and conspiracy to commit theft of currency over $500. Meanwhile, Ngassa and Yossa were charged with conspiracy to commit theft of currency over $500 and as accessories after the fact. Machie was charged with conspiracy to commit theft of currency over $500.

Mbom, Ngassa, Yossa, Tataw, and Tarke are each being held on bonds ranging from $200,000 to $2 million at the Montgomery County Detention Center. Machie was released on a $50,000 personal bond.

A similar theft of currency occurred from a bank in the District on Thursday. Metropolitan Police detectives, Montgomery County Police detectives, and the FBI are working in cooperation to determine if these two incidents are related.