Route 128 Bandit Allegedly Admits To Robbing 9 Boston-Area Banks

BOSTON, MA — The man dubbed the "Route 128 Bandit" admitted to robbing nine banks in the Greater Boston area from Waltham to Wellesley when he was charged Wednesday with the bank robberies.

Paul B. Landrum, 38, of Boston, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell today; Friday, Nov. 3, at 10:15 a.m.

This summer, police department situated along the route 128 corridor of I-95, including Wellesley and Waltham started taking to social media with a description of a man that allegedly entered banks in their communities and robbed them. The Wellesley break in prompted a lock down at a nearby school.

According to court documents, between July 31 and Oct. 6 at least nine banks were robbed in the Greater Boston area, and in all of the robberies, the perpetrator was described as a 30-45-year-old light-skinned black or Hispanic male wearing a baseball hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved collarless shirt. Photos from inside the bank in Waltham and later in Bedford appear to show the same man with the same outfit though days apart. Based on the descriptive similarities at each bank, law enforcement suspected the same man was involved in each.

It was the robber’s get-away car that led law enforcement (police and FBI) to identify Landrum and a woman accomplice, who was accused of robbing a Bank of America in Brookline.

On Oct. 24, police and FBI arrested Landrum in Boston and 36-year-old Tamea Chambers, who is alleged to have robbed the East Boston Savings Bank on Oct. 17 and the Brookline bank two days later.

After he was advised of his rights, Landrum allegedly admitted to robbing a branch of Bank of America in Bedford on Oct. 6, 2017, and that he robbed the eight other banks in question since July 31, according to Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Harold H. Shaw, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston who made the announcement Thursday.

Landrum faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The details contained in the court documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Previously on Patch:

Bank Robbery: Wellesley Police Release Photos Of Suspect

Waltham Bank Robbed, Police Are Looking for This Man

'Route 128 Bandit,' Alleged Accomplice Caught (list of sightings)

Photo courtesy FBI