Public’s Help Sought in Identifying the “Paw Paw Bandit”

NEW ORLEANS—David W. Welker, Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Division of the FBI, is joined today by Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand and Kenner Police Chief Steve Caraway in asking for the public’s help in identifying the “Paw Paw Bandit,” believed to have committed multiple bank robberies in Jefferson Parish.

The Paw Paw Bandit, who is so named because of his age, is believed to have committed at least four bank robberies in Jefferson Parish. His first three robberies were committed on a Friday around 5:00 p.m., during which he implied he had a weapon and wore sunglasses. The forth robbery was on a Saturday at approximately 11:00 a.m., and he did not imply a weapon. No injuries were reported during any of the incidents.

Based on descriptions provided by witnesses and bank surveillance images, the robber is described as a heavy-set white male, approximately 60 years old and 6 feet tall with grey hair. He wore a different baseball hat during each heist. He got away with an undisclosed amount of money from each bank.

The FBI, JPSO, and Kenner PD are looking into the following list of robberies possibly committed by this same individual:

■June 10, 2011, Whitney Bank, 2609 Veterans Blvd in Kenner, La. Suspect wore a light-colored hat with an Academy Sports logo.

■June 24, 2011, Capital One Bank, 1501 Veterans Boulevard, Metairie, La. Suspect wore a black hat with an unknown logo and a black t-shirt with basketball logo.

■July 8, 2011, Whitney Bank, 3060 North Causeway Boulevard, Metairie, La. Suspect wore a yellow hat.

■July 16, Capital One Bank branch located at 2200 N. Causeway Boulevard. Suspect wore a dark-colored hat.

Anyone with information about these bank robberies is asked to call the FBI at 504-816-3000. The Metropolitan Orleans Bank Security Association (MOBSA) and the FBI are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of this bank robber.

The public is asked to visit the website www.bandittrackerneworleans.com, featuring color photos and descriptions of these bank robbers along with others and fugitives throughout the FBI’s New Orleans Division, to see if they can assist the FBI in identifying and/or locating the captioned wanted individuals.