Federal Grand Jury Indicts Suspected Lake Elsinore Bank Robber

The man suspected of robbing several area banks, including in Lake Elsinore on Dec. 28, is in custody and has been indicted by a federal grand jury, the FBI is reporting.

Pomona resident Steven Dwayne Paulson, 46, was indicted Wednesday on seven counts of bank robbery for each of the heists he allegedly pulled over the course of a month, according to an FBI advisory.

Paulson was arrested Jan. 10 in Pomona after a detective with the Upland Police Department spotted him driving what was described as a getaway vehicle used in the heists, according to the advisory.

Dubbed the “Puffy Coat Bandit” by the FBI because of the ski jacket he wore to at least one robbery, Paulson is accused of holding up:
   -- Dec. 20: U.S. Bank branch in Chino;
   -- Dec. 22: Premier Service Bank in Corona;
 
   -- Dec. 30: Union Bank in Glendora;
   -- Jan. 3: Chase Bank in Cerritos;
   -- Jan. 7: the same U.S. Bank robbed in Chino on Dec. 20; and
   -- Jan. 9: Comerica Bank in Rancho Cucamonga.

During the Lake Elsinore robbery, Paulson stole $5,849, according to Wednesday's indictment. His biggest take was the Dec. 22 holdup in Corona, where he made away with $21,429, according to the indictment.

Paulson allegedly used a demand note and, in some cases, he simulated having a weapon under his coat during the heists, All seven counts in Wednesday's grand jury indictment accuse Paulson of robbing the banks "by force and violence, and by intimidation."

Paulson is currently being held in federal custody. He will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California (Los Angeles), according to Wednesday’s FBI advisory.

In April 1999, Paulson was convicted on a charge of receiving stolen property, according to San Bernardino County Superior Court records.