A 66-year-old man admitted his involvement in the “black hat bandit” bank robberies, according to court documents.
The black hat bandits are believed to be responsible for nine robberies in D.C., Virginia and Maryland. They were known for their military-like precision, brazen guns-drawn tactics, fake beards and, of course, their black hats.
Thomas Anthony George’s last robbery was at a Wells Fargo in the 4300 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, near the Van Ness Metro station. He walked in, pulled a gun and said, “Give me money or I'm going to kill a customer,” officials said. He repeated it twice, they said.
According to court documents, George and an accomplice took about $9,000 from the bank. Minutes later, George was arrested at an apartment on 19th Place SE. The FBI showed up in full force. They said George had about $4,000 in cash on him.
Also arrested at the apartment was 36-year-old Dewitt Hall, who is believed to be an accomplice.
Over the a year-and-a-half, the black hat bandits stole more than $80,000, including $35,000 at a Wells Fargo in Falls Church, Virginia.
In January, they took $47,000 from a Bank of America, but a dye pack went off in the parking lot and they left the money.
