$50,000 Reward

Bank of America Offers up to $50,000 Reward in Exchange for Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction of the "20 Questions Bandits," a Violent Group Responsible for Bank Robberies in Multiple Counties


January 26, 2010 - The FBI and detectives with multiple police and sheriffs' departments in Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties are seeking the public’s assistance in learning the identity of the “20 Questions Bandits," the moniker for at least four unidentified men believed to be responsible for six violent, armed takeover bank robberies; four in Ventura County; one in Los Angles County; and most recently, in Orange County late last week. The Bank of America and its employees were victimized in four of the robberies, and the bank is offering a reward of up to $50,000 in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for these robberies.

The most recent robbery attributed to the 20 Questions Bandits occurred on January 21, 2010 at a Bank of America in the city of Westminster. During the robberies, the bandits are extremely violent and have assaulted employees inside the bank. Witnesses have described four black males armed with guns, who have forced the employees and customers in the bank to comply with their demands while they robbed the bank, and in some cases, victims of their personal belongings. During the initial robberies linked to this group, the suspects asked several questions during the robberies, according to witnesses, and were therefore nicknamed the "20 Questions Bandits."

Then following is a list of robberies law enforcement has linked to the 20 Questions Bandits:

• 3/3/09: U.S. Bank, Thousand Oaks, CA
• 7/2/09: Bank of America, Thousand Oaks, CA
• 11/13/09: U.S. Bank, Ventura, CA
• 12/7/09: Bank of America, Oxnard, CA
• 12/10/09: Bank of America, El Monte, CA
• 1/21/10: Bank of America, Westminster, CA

This investigation is being conducted jointly by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, the Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura Police Department, the LAPD, the Westminster Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI. Photographs can be found at www.labankrobbers.org. Anyone with info can call these agencies or 911. The FBI may be reached 24 hours a day at 888 CANT HIDE (888 226-8443).