‘Well-Dressed Bandit’ given 51-month prison sentence

By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

The “Well-Dressed Bandit,” whose nine bank robberies included two at a 4S Ranch credit union, has been sentenced to 51 months in prison, authorities said.

"Well-Dressed Bandit" shown in a surveillance photo during an Aug. 2, 2011 robbery at Mission Federal Credit Union in Solana Beach.

On Wednesday, United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the sentence for Anthony Pernelle Burgess, who received the nickname based on his attire when committing the crimes.

The robbery spree from July 15, 2010 to Sept. 23, 2011 included two at the Point Loma Credit Union at 10413 Craftsman Way in the 4S Commons Town Center. Burgess hit that location twice, during his fifth robbery on Feb. 11, 2011 when he took $8,812, and his seventh on June 17, 2011 when he took $5,506, Duffy said.

The 4S Ranch location was not the only one where he returned to commit subsequent robberies. Three times he went to a Chase Bank on Scranton Road and twice he robbed a Mission Federal Credit Union on Lomas Santa Fe Drive.

In a Feb. 21 plea agreement, Burgess admitted to committing the nine robberies. In addition to the 51-month prison sentence, he also has to pay $48,024 in restitution to the banks.

According to Duffy, when committing most of the robberies Burgess would approach tellers with his right hand placed inside his jacket to simulate he had a weapon and demanded money. She said he was identified during the ninth robbery when an off-duty police officer observed him fleeing the scene to a nearby parking garage and getting into his black Mercedes.

“This witness was able to jot down the license plate for that vehicle, which was registered to Burgess, and provided it to law enforcement personnel,” she said. “Fingerprints found at the scene of two of the robberies matched those of Burgess and surveillance photographs linked Burgess to the other robberies.”

Duffy said his apprehension was due to the off-duty police officer and efforts by the FBI.

No related posts.

Short URL: http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=24678

Posted by Elizabeth Marie Himchak on May 16 2012. Filed under 4S Ranch, Local News, Rancho Bernardo/4S Ranch (Click here for more stories). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry