Joe Loya

Joe Loya Jr. (born 1961) is an American writer and former convicted bank robber. He grew up in Los Angeles, and from 1985 was robbing banks in Southern California until he began a seven-year prison sentence in Lompoc Federal Penitentiary. While in prison he was placed in solitary confinement for violent behavior. During this time he developed a friendship with the author Richard Rodriguez. After his release in 1996 he wrote about prison life for the Pacific News Service. He published his biography, The Man Who Outgrew His Prison Cell, in 2005.

Joe Loya Jr. was born in East Los Angeles in 1961. His father, Joe Loya Sr., was a former gang member who found redemption in Catholicism and later the Southern Baptist Church. Joe Loya Sr. became a preacher at a local Baptist Church. Joe Loya Jr.'s mother was diagnosed with kidney disease, and two and a half years later, she died from the disease. Joe Loya Sr. eventually remarried, but Joe Loya Sr.'s temper and violent behavior created a hostile environment. After an altercation with his father when he was 16, Joe Loya Jr. stabbed his father in the neck. Joe Loya Sr. survived the incident and is still alive. Joe Loya Jr. is quoted as saying, "Once you try and kill your dad, no one scares you.". After the incident, Joe Loya Jr. was briefly put in foster care but went back to live with his father for last year of high school.

Joe Loya's initiation to crime started with scamming parishioners at his father's church, writing bad checks, stealing cars and other various money scams including a $30,000 defrauding scheme. With warrants in five counties in Southern California, Loya went to Mexico briefly to evade the law. There, he was inspired by Robin Hood-esque stories about Pancho Villa, who robbed banks in America before coming back to Mexico. During Loya's early criminal career, he gained a reputation as a ladies' man, a charismatic and manipulative character who lived a flamboyant, expensive lifestyle.

Loya's first robbery was in 1985 at a San Diego branch of Bank of America. Loya handed the teller a note that said "We have a bomb. I have a gun. Give me the money NOW!!!" Loya made off with $4,300. Later that year, Loya was arrested on charges that included check fraud and car theft, and he served two years in jail. When Loya was released in 1988, he started robbing banks immediately after. Loya is estimated to have robbed between 30 and 40 banks between 1988 and 1989. Loya's style of robbery was notable to officials due to his calm demeanor, frequency and boldness. Loya was not motivated by drug use, as many other bank robbers at the time were. Loya would rob up to four banks in one day, as well as banks right next door to each other. Loya's tactics included layering on clothing that he would take off as he was getting away, choosing banks close to freeway on ramps, and generally working alone. Loya never pointed a gun at a teller. Loya's largest take came in January 1989, when he stole $32,713 from a bank vault. Loya was erroneously dubbed the "Beirut Bandit" by officials due to his Middle Eastern looks and well spoken English.

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