Long-time fugitives arrested in South Africa

Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray P. Churay of the Phoenix Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today (August 20, 2003) the arrest of a duo dubbed the "Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde" in Cape Town, South Africa.

Accused serial bank robbers Craig Michael Pritchert, 40, and Nova Esther Guthrie, 30, were arrested Tuesday at about 1:00 p.m., Phoenix time at their residence in Cape Town, South Africa. The arresting officers were acting on a tip provided to the Phoenix Division of the FBI in the United States.

Pritchert and/or Guthrie are suspected of robbing six banks throughout the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Pritchert has outstanding warrants in Arizona, Oregon, Colorado and New Mexico and Guthrie has warrants in Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon.

Maxim Magazine dubbed the two "the Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde" in a feature article and international media interest in Guthrie and Pritchert has remained steady over the years.

Pritchert's string of robberies began when he is alleged to have robbed Norwest Bank, 7201 East McDowell Road, Scottsdale, Arizona on August 13, 1997. In that heist, he is alleged to have worn a stocking mask, gloves, a white long-sleeved button-up shirt and a baseball cap. He was armed with a small black pistol. Pointing the gun at tellers, the robber made demands for cash and obtained bank funds from several bank employees. Investigation at the time unearthed some of the bank loot as well as two vehicles used in the getaway; one of the cars was registered to Pritchert.

His next alleged bank heist was in Durango, Colorado on Halloween of 1997. In this robbery, Pritchert was armed and had a male accomplice. The two robbers appeared to be talking with someone outside the bank via hand-held radios. They bound the robbery victims before taking money and leaving.

Pritchert is also suspected of robbing First Security Bank of Missoula in Montana on January 26, 1998. In this robbery, a lone male armed with a handgun entered the bank and obtained funds. He then bound the employees and left.

The next robbery in the spree was in Aztec, New Mexico on March 17, 1998. It is alleged that Pritchert was wearing a mask, rubber gloves and was carrying a handgun. He entered the bank, obtained funds, tied up three employees and fled. A masked getaway driver was seen outside the bank.

Pritchert is thought to have robbed Guaranty Federal Bank in Dickinson, Texas on November 19, 1998. Wearing a wig pulled into a ponytail, Pritchert was armed with a chrome revolver. He appeared to be conversing with an accomplice via a radio head set. He obtained money from the bank and exited the institution after threatening the employees.

The next bank robbed was Klamath First Federal in Bend, Oregon in February 19, 1999. An armed robber entered the bank and charged a small black semi-automatic handgun. The robber had what appeared to be a police scanner, which he listened to via earpieces and wires. After obtaining money, the robber bound employees and departed. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies in Arizona have been looking for Pritchert since the August 13, 1997 robbery. Investigation has led the FBI to places Pritchert and Guthrie had been, to include, Belize, and British Columbia, living by the use of aliases and false identities. During their life on the run, both Pritchert and Guthrie seem to have enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, snow skiing during the winter, and lounging on some of the world's most popular beaches during the summer, all allegedly, with the proceeds from their robberies.

The duo has been featured on America's Most Wanted at least six times.

Acting on a tip obtained this month, the Phoenix Division of the FBI coordinated a hunt for the pair with the FBI's Legal Attaché Office in Pretoria, South Africa. The pair was located in Cape Town, South Africa. Guthrie and Pritchert were arrested on August 19, 2003 without incident. It is expected they will be extradited from South Africa to answer to warrants in Arizona and other jurisdictions.

Agencies involved in this investigation include the Scottsdale Police Department, the Mesa Police Department, the United States Attorney's Office of Arizona, South African Police Service (SAPS), Legal Attaches, and the Phoenix office of the FBI.

(At this time, the charges against Pritchert and Guthrie are accusations only and their guilt or innocence has yet to be established.)