Man Claiming To Be 'Geezer Bandit' Has Criminal Past

OFF THE WIRE
Source: 10news.com

VISTA, Calif. -- 10News has learned a man accused of robbing a Carlsbad bank while claiming he was the "Geezer Bandit" has a criminal past.

Court records showed 58-year-old Edward Power served 69 days in the Vista Detention Center and is now on probation after being convicted of a felony for threatening to kill two officers and resisting arrest. The incident happened in February after police pulled him over in downtown Carlsbad after suspecting he was driving under the influence.

Other court documents stated he has a history with the Mongols Motorcycle Gang, which is a nationally recognized biker gang known to engage in large-scale narcotics trafficking in addition to murder, robbery, extortion, fraud and assault.


The FBI could not comment on Power's criminal past, but the agency did confirm that witnesses identified Power as the man who tried to rob an Carlsbad Bank of America and who did rob a Oceanside Wells Fargo on Monday.

"Those witnesses were able to get license plate information to [the] Carlsbad police department," said Darrell Foxworth, FBI Special Agent in Charge.

Investigators said when Power held up the Wells Fargo bank with a gun, he told the teller he was the "Geezer Bandit" who's accused of 11 holdups in San Diego and Riverside counties.

The real "Geezer Bandit" hasn't hit a bank since June 24, which is the longest break since he began his crime spree a year ago.

Power is scheduled to appear in court this week.

Previous Stories:
•Nov. 1, 2010: Robber Who Identified Self As 'Geezer Bandit' Arrested