His weapon of choice: A fake bomb.
After using a large knife to rob a bank in 2005, Gerald Alex Bigsby, 55, turned to the fear of explosives in six bank robberies in 2006.
Bigsby amassed more than $65,000 from banks in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County and Washington, D.C., according to a statement of facts presented in U.S. District Court on Tuesday.
Bigsby, who has no fixed address, pleaded guilty to armed bank robberies between July 21, 2005 and June 28.
In each of the robberies this year, he threatened bank personnel with a fake bomb, prosecutors said.
Bigsby also admitted to robbing two Bank of America branches in Washington in July 2005 and this July, netting about $10,000 and $9,500, respectively.
His weapon in the D.C. incidents was another bomb threat, prosecutors said.
Bigsby was arrested July 5 on a warrant for a violation of supervised release for a previous bank robbery conviction. The FBI, Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Montgomery County police investigated his latest crimes.
“We?re glad he?s been brought to justice,” said Phil Hosmer, a spokesman for M&T Bank, whose two branches in White Marsh and Baltimore lost a total of nearly $25,000 to Bigsby?s robberies. “We?re very thankful for the hard work of law enforcement.”
Bigsby faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count of armed bank robbery.
U.S. District Judge Andre Davis has scheduled sentencing for Sept. 8.
A robber?s path
» On July 21, 2005, Bigsby used a large knife to rob the Bank of America at 8788 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring of $10,730.
» On May 23, Bigsby robbed the BB&T Bank at 200 E. Pratt St. in Baltimore of $2,100.
» On May 24, he again robbed the Bank of America on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring of $3,800.
» On June 7, he robbed the Sun Trust Bank at 120 E. Baltimore St. in Baltimore of $2,264.
» On June 9, he robbed the Wachovia Bank at 7901 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda of $2,795.
» On June 20, Bigsby robbed the M&T Bank at 25 S. Charles St. in Baltimore of $5,346.
» On June 28, he robbed the M&T Bank at 5100 Campbell Blvd. in White Marsh of $19,189.
Source: U.S. Attorney?s Office
