Federal agents have charged a man in connection with a series of armed robbery attempts linked by the gunman’s bizarre attempts at disguise and striking lack of competency, according to court documents. As agents were looking into eight robbery incidents over a two-week span, a pattern emerged that led them to suspect a single perpetrator. Sometimes the robber wore a wig and business suit.
Sometimes he added a fake nose or false goatee. Sometimes he wore a white headdress with a black band. Sometimes he wore a white robe.
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The robber also seemed singularly inept, according to descriptions of some of the robbery attempts in charging documents. The first attempt occurred at closing time Aug. 20 at the United Bank in Alexandria. But the robber got there too late. Tellers locked the door just as a man with funny hair walked up to the bank. The employees shooed him away and reported the incident to authorities.
Later that day, the wigged man showed up at the Ace Checks Cashed in Falls Church. He wrote two notes asking to use the restroom. When the teller denied his request, the robber wrote a third note, “Give me all your cash,” and pulled out a revolver. The teller handed over $1,917.
The next day, a man in a suit who appeared to be in disguise walked into the Bank of America in Falls Church.
The manager became suspicious of the odd man and tried to talk to him, but he avoided her. The manager then saw the man write big letters on a deposit slip and thought he might be trying to write a demand note. She hit the silent alarm and tried to engage him again, but he put his head down and left. Twenty minutes later the wigged man tried to rob a check cashing store in Arlington, police said. But when the teller couldn’t read his demand note, he pulled out a gun, pushed it into the cash slot and fired a shot before running away empty-handed.
After a few more attempts, a federal task force was assigned to the case.
Police combing the Falls Church area found a man who matched his description and kept surveillance on him. Federal agents last week arrested Andualem T. Kusa and charged him with interference of commerce by threats of violence. Their investigation continues.
Police obtained a search warrant and in Kusa’s bedroom found a .357 revolver with one spent round and a bag containing a wig, gloves, a headdress and a fake goatee, according to court documents.
