Costa Rica deports alleged bank robber to U.S.

Costa Rican Immigration Police arrest U.S. citizen Luis David Cardona, 38, at the Palmares Festival in January. Cardona was deported on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Immigration Administration)

February 7th, 2014 (ISH) Costa Rican officials deported U.S. national Luis David Cardona to his home country on Feb. 5 to face charges that he robbed a bank in the state of Florida.

Cardona, 38, was arrested in January at the Palmares Festival in the province of Alajuela, where Immigration Police saw his tourist visa had expired during a routine inspection.

Cardona, who was granted a 30-day tourist visa upon arriving in the country on Oct. 17, 2013, had been held at the Immigration Prison in the district of Hatillo.

He was deported after the U.S. Embassy confirmed he was wanted in his native country. Cardona has been banned from visiting Costa Rica for the next five years, Immigration Administration Director Kathya Rodríguez said.

Inside Costa Rica contributed to and edited this report.