Granddad Bandit Believed Caught

The FBI says it has arrested a man suspected of being the infamous “Granddad bandit,” after his picture was posted on digital billboards across the country. Charles Fishburne reports.

The FBI says 52-year-old Michael Francis Mara was arrested yesterday in his home town of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ending a crime spree that began in Richmond and ultimately resulted in at least 25 bank jobs in 13 states.

What made him hard to catch was the fact he looked like somebody’s granddad, wore no disguises, walked into a bank, stood quietly in line, passed the teller a note and strolled out into the street where he blended in with everybody else.

But a tipster spotted Mara after the FBI launched a massive campaign, splashing his face on digital billboards across the country, and yesterday, the FBI arrested him and charged him with bank robbery.  He faces 20 years, if convicted.

Charles Fishburne, WCVE News

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