Accused Ohio Serial Bank Robber Indicted, Allegedly Hit 5 Banks

CLEVELAND — From August to September, five banks in Northeast Ohio were robbed. Law enforcement officials and the Department of Justice announced Wednesday that Anthony Jones has been indicted for all five robberies.

Jones was taken into custody on September 8, after he reportedly robbed the Woodforest Bank inside the Steelyard Commons Walmart, the FBI said. An off-duty sheriff's deputy saw the robbery and chased Jones down.

Four banks in Cleveland and one bank in University Heights were allegedly hit during the late summer spree, the DOJ noted. The banks were:

• U.S. Bank at 1350 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland on Aug. 27;
• Huntington Bank at 905 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland on Aug. 30;
• Fifth Third Bank at 600 Superior Ave. in Cleveland on Sept. 4;
• Citizen’s Bank at 2175 Warrensville Center Road in University Heights on Sept. 6; and
• Woodforest National Bank at 3400 Steelyard Drive in Cleveland on Sept. 8.

Jones was a suspect in the Citizens Bank robbery in University Heights immediately. The FBI originally said that Jones walked into the Citizens Bank on Warrensville Center Road, waited in line, and then told a teller he wanted to cash a check. He pulled out a piece of paper and slid it to the teller. It wasn't a check. It was a demand note, the FBI said.

The teller handed over cash and Jones took off running. He eluded law enforcement for just two days before he was captured, during his attempted robbery of Woodforest, the DOJ said.

The investigation into Jones was led by the FBI and University Heights Police.

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Photo from the FBI