'Full-Blown AIDS,' Gun Threat In Accused Bank Robber's Note To Teller

CHICAGO, IL — A man accused of robbing a bank and fleeing the scene on a CTA bus Monday has a string of past convictions for bank robberies, as well as for breaking out of jail, according to the FBI.

Emmanuel Lewis Hart, 49, was arrested Monday, March 20, while riding the bus in the 6400 block of South Halsted Street in the Englewood neighborhood. An electornic tracking device hidden in the stolen $4,318 in cash led authorities to Hart, who wound up with the ill-gotten funds — and, inadvertenly, the electronic tracker — after allegedly robbing First American Bank, 33 W. Monroe St.

According to an FBI affidavit, Hart entered the bank at around 2:06 p.m. and gave a folded note to the bank teller. The note read:

"I WANT 4 - $4000 PACK OF $100.00 BILLS

"DON'T MAKE ME HURT ANYONE

"I IIAVE FULL BLOWN AIDS AND DON'T GIVE A F--K

"I WILL BUST THIS GUN!

"NO ALARM DYE PACKS OR TRACKING DEVISE IN MONEY"

The teller collected the cash — and slipped in the tracking device — as Hart told her, "Hurry up and hand me the money," the affidavit stated. With money in hand, Hart allegedly fled the bank and walking east on Monroe Street before catching a bus.

RELATED: Accused Bank Robber Discovers Hopping A Bus Isn't Best Way To Make A Getaway

Using the tracking device, FBI agents and Chicago police officers caught up with Hart on a South Side CTA bus. He was identified as the bank robber by witnesses and security camera footage, the affidavit stated. Also, four of the bills that authorities recovered from Hart had serial numbers that matched "bait bills" from the bank.

Hart has a long criminal history when it comes to bank heists, according to the FBI. In July of 1999, he was convicted of robbing three banks and sentenced to 84 months in prison. Hart also was convicted in a bank robbery in November of 2007 and given an 86-month jail sentence.

But prison and Hart were not a good match. The bank robber has been twice convicted of trying to break out of jail: once in July of 2005 and again in June of 2013. He was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison for the 2013 conviction, the FBI said.

Security camera footage of Emmanuel Lewis Hart, 49, who is accused of robbing First American Bank, 33 W. Monroe St., on Monday, March 20. (photos via the FBI)

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