Crime & Safety

Alleged 'Snowboarder Bandit' Charged With Committing Robberies in 10 O.C. Banks

Michael Brandon Franks, 29, Riverside County, is charged with 10 felony counts of second degree robbery and two felony counts of attempted robbery. The Union Bank in Corona del Mar was among the banks allegedly hit by the bandit on Feb.1.

The man dubbed the " was charged Tuesday with committing robberies in 10 Orange County banks, including .

Michael Brandon Franks, 29, of Riverside County, is charged with 10 felony counts of second degree robbery and two felony counts of attempted robbery. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison. He is being held on $250,000 bail and is scheduled for a continued arraignment hearing on Friday, May 18.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, between Dec. 20, 2011, and March 21, Franks is accused of committing 10 robberies at nine different banks in Orange County. The bank chains included , located at 2865 E. Coast Highway, Bank of America in Anaheim, Chase Bank in Laguna Hills and Laguna Niguel, Citibank in Irvine, two robberies at the Schools First Federal Credit Union branch in Anaheim, US Bank in Irvine and Ladera Ranch and Wells Fargo in Irvine.

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Franks is accused of attempting to rob a bank teller at the Citibank branch in Irvine and the US Bank branch in Irvine where he is accused of committing robberies before.

In each of the cases, the defendant is accused of carrying out similar acts: entering the bank wearing distinctive headgear which included a beanie, approaching a teller, and slipping the teller a note stating he had a gun and demanding money. The defendant is accused of causing the tellers to give the money to him out of fear. The defendant is accused of taking the money and walking out of the bank. From the 10 robberies, Franks is accused of taking a total of approximately $30,000.

The case was investigated by multiple agencies including Anaheim Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Irvine Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Department, and Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Franks was arrested on Friday, May 4 at his home in Riverside County.

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

 


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