SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 24, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Thursday morning the “Traveling Bandit,” wanted for a series of bank robberies in six states, including Utah, has been arrested.
The suspect, Jason Lee Robinson, 49, of Pikeville, Kentucky, dubbed the “Traveling Bandit” because of the large area he has covered, allegedly robbed at least seven banks in six states since Dec. 28.
A news release from the FBI said Robinson was arrested on federal bank robbery charges for his alleged involvement in the robbery of a Capital Bank branch at 20295 NE 29th Place, Aventura, Florida, on Dec. 28.
“Robinson was arrested this morning without incident in Fruita, Colorado, by Special Agents of the FBI’s Denver Field Office,” the news release said. “Investigators say that Robinson is the ‘Traveling Bandit’ who is wanted for multiple bank robberies across the country.”
A complaint detailing the charges, filed in the Southern District of Florida, said that after a news release about the case was disseminated to news outlets across the country earlier this month, a woman who identified herself as Robinson’s ex-wife called an FBI tip line concerning the news release. She stated that the photograph in the news release was consistent with Robinson’s appearance.
Robinson is in federal custody; details about his initial appearance in federal court are
forthcoming.
Asheville Police Department, Aventura Police Department, Mt. Juliet Police Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Price Police Department in Utah, the South Florida Violent Crime Task Force and the FBI continue their investigation.
Robinson is currently suspected of the following robberies:
- Dec. 28 — Aventura, Florida; Capital Bank
- Jan. 2 — Asheville, North Carolina; SunTrust Bank
- Jan. 4 — Johnson City, Tennessee; Mountain Commerce Bank
- Jan. 8 — Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; US Bank
- Jan. 10 — Prattville, Alabama; TrustMark Bank
- Jan. 14 — Mt. Vernon, Illinois; 5th 3rd Bank
- Jan. 17 — Price, Utah; Wells Fargo Bank
A previous news release from the FBI said no one was injured during the robberies. The suspect usually approached the counter and presented a note demanding money and threatened a weapon, then departed the bank on foot.
