Reed Domingo
Robbed 12 banks to pay for IVF
Reed’s story is an exceptional one. Born into the Cape Malay community during apartheid rule, his family moved to the UK in 1967 where his father started a small enzyme manufacturing laboratory.
Starting work for his father Reed was tasked with bringing innovation into production techniques. Relocating to San Diego, he experienced the American dream of working hard and garnering the rewards. While more than trebling company turnover over his tenure, Reed also attained a B.A. in Psychology from California State University. A keen sportsman, Reed was captivated by the gym scene and found his own ubiquitous California blonde, Patrice.
In order to conceive a child, they were forced to pursue IVF. What started as a simple circumnavigation exercise mushroomed into a physical and emotional rollercoaster lasting several years. Ultimately, they achieved a cherubic blessing whom they called Angelique. Life seemed perfect, but that goal came at a devastating debt of over $250,000 of borrowed money. Coupled with Patrice succumbing to a debilitating health crisis due to the extensive hormonal regime, Reed found himself in a world of incalculable pressure that became relentless.
What was supposed to be a one-off, do or die step into madness became a year long, monthly cycle of self inflicted Russian roulette. 12 successful bank robberies encompassed seamless executions, exploding dye packs, police car and helicopter pursuits, comedic situations, literal money laundering, unwitting accomplices and even divine intervention. To further sweeten the pot, Reed’s two best friends were a San Diego police officer and Special Agent for the DEA. And, his father in-law was a retired sergeant in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Reed, Patrice and Angelique were about to downsize when on a sunny spring 5am morning there was a fateful pounding on his front door – it was the FBI and a SWAT team. Over the next couple of months in federal detention and after some serious horse-trading, Reed agreed to plead guilty to everything in exchange for a considerate 5 year term of incarceration.
Those years at boarding school now presented their true worth as Reed was sent to Terminal Island, an Alcatraz styled correctional institution, off the coast of Southern California. Here Reed had to find his place as a British person of colour in an intensely, racially divided and uncompromising hellhole of miscreants and violent offenders. His previous academic accomplishments again came to the fore, and Reed’s salvation came in the form of becoming a the first ever teacher-in in the institutions educational department.
Now out as a podcast, the story features Reed narrating, with reconstruction of certain events that happened: the bank robberies and the bank training that all bank employees go through. Plus his real wife and real best friend contributing.
