Sep 4, 2008 4:26 pm US/Central
FBI Claims Chicago Man Robbed As Many As 20 Banks
CHICAGO (AP) ―
The FBI claims that a Chicago man charged with attempted bank robbery is a serial bank robber dubbed the "Second-Hand Bandit" because of his habit of wearing old clothes.
Joseph "Jose" Banks, 33, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole on Thursday and was ordered held pending a Monday bond hearing.
The FBI said in a news release that Banks and several accomplices might have taken part in as many as 20 bank robberies since he first allegedly struck on Dec. 31, 2004.
But in a complaint filed with the court, he was charged with just one offense -- the attempted robbery of a North Side bank on Aug. 26. The robbery backfired and the bandit fled out a rear door.
Agents had long sought the man they dubbed the "Second-Hand Bandit" -- they theorized that he might have liked to do his shopping at second-hand stores. The FBI-led violent crimes task force, which includes Chicago police and sheriff's officers, arrested Banks without incident Wednesday night.
Robert D. Grant, special agent in charge of the FBI's Chicago office, said that "the arrest of a suspect in this investigation proves once again that the combined efforts of federal and local investigators, as exhibited by our task force members is the most effective way to combat many violent crimes, such as serial bank robbers."
Banks appeared before Cole wearing the bright orange jumpsuit of a federal prisoner and entered court with manacles on his legs.
His attorney, John T. Kennedy, said Banks owned a clothing business but didn't say what kind or how big a business it was. He also said Banks worked for a catering company.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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