Mexican national charged in connection with string of WA robberies
Nov 14, 2025, 12:20 PM
The Department of Justice seal is seen during a news conference at the DOJ office. (Photo courtesy of The Associated Press)
(Photo courtesy of The Associated Press)
A Mexican national was charged in connection with a string of robberies around western Washington in August.
Edgar Oswaldo Gonzalez Barragan, 32, is charged with robbery and attempted robbery of three tribal casinos and a Shoreline bank branch, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
Gonzalez Barragan was arrested by Kent police just hours after he allegedly robbed the U.S. Bank branch in Shoreline.
Mexican national allegedly began string of robberies on Aug. 1
On August 1, he allegedly brandished a silver handgun when he approached a cashier window at the Tulalip Quil Creek Casino and demanded money from the till. The cashier pressed the panic button and refused to hand over the money, despite Gonzalez Barragan allegedly threatening to shoot guests. He then ran from the scene.
Two days later, Gonzalez Barragan was identified as the person who robbed the Silver Reef Casino on the Lummi Nation Indian Reservation in Ferndale, according to the attorney’s office. He again allegedly used a silver handgun to demand cash from the cashier and then fled the casino on foot.
On August 9, Gonzalez Barragan allegedly tried to rob the Little Creek Casino on Squaxin Island Tribal land in Shelton. He allegedly took out a gun from his pocket and demanded cash. After the teller told him there was no cash, he ran from the scene.
Later that same day, the Riverside Fire Authority reported its $12,000 “Jaws of Life” tool was stolen from a fire truck. Law enforcement used surveillance video to identify a vehicle associated with the theft, ultimately leading them to Gonzalez Barragan.
On August 11, the attorney’s office stated Gonzalez Barragan walked into the U.S. Bank branch in Shoreline and demanded money. The teller heard what sounded like a large object hit the table. Fearing it was a gun, the teller handed him the money from the till, and he left.
Gonzalez Barragan was then arrested that same day, and was wearing the same clothing he wore during the bank robbery.
“Cell phone location data and other evidence place Gonzalez Barragan in the vicinity of all the robberies and attempted robberies,” the attorney’s office stated.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, with assistance from several law enforcement agencies, including the Kent Police Department, the Ferndale Police Department, the Federal Way Police Department, the Marysville Police Department, the Centralia Police Department, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, the Lummi Nation Police Department, the Tulalip Police Department, the Squaxin Island Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security.
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