Wednesday, February 24, 2010

FBI Arrests Serial Bank Robber Steven Gregory Gass, Dubbed the “Old Man Bandit”

February 24, 2010 - Steven Gregory Gass, age 55, dubbed the “Old Man Bandit,” was arrested around noon today in Miami Springs, Florida by the FBI. Gass is believed to be responsible for multiple bank robberies in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Collier counties since 2005. Gass has been the subject of a coordinated investigation involving the following law enforcement agencies:

Boca Raton Police Department
Boynton Beach Police Department
Broward Sherriff’s Office
Coral Gables Police Department
Delray Beach Police Department
Doral Police Department
FBI Miami
FBI Tampa
Greenacres Police Department
Hollywood Police Department
Miami-Dade Police Department
Miami Police Department
Naples Police Department
Palm Beach Gardens Police Department
Palm Beach Sherriff’s Office
Pinecrest Police Department

Gass has been charged with robbing Bank of America in Hollywood, Florida in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113. If convicted, he faces 20 years in prison.

According to the complaint affidavit, on June 25, 2009, defendant Gass robbed the Bank of America located at 3900 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood, Florida. Gass allegedly approached a teller and handed the teller a demand note stating that it was a robbery, that he wanted large bills, and that the teller had five seconds to comply. Gass was seen leaving the bank in a dark green, 1990's era, Chevrolet Suburban.

A number of police departments released compilations of the bank robbery surveillance videos and photographs of robberies that had recently occurred in the tri-county area. A tip was received identifying the robber as Gass and he was positively identified by tellers at Bank of America. Another witness confirmed that Gass was driving a green Suburban at the time of the second robbery.

Gass is currently being held at the Broward County Jail and will appear at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow before a federal magistrate judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for his initial appearance.

A complaint is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

No comments: