Masked man robbed same bank a second time, then was caught at a casino, feds say
A man convicted of robbing nine banks more than a decade ago robbed one of those same banks a second time while wearing a black mask on New Year’s Eve, federal prosecutors said.
Justin Worley, known as the “Bearded Bandit,” revisited the TD Bank in East Providence, Rhode Island, with another masked man, Nicholas Lage, and they terrified two tellers on Dec. 31, 2019, according to court documents.
They demanded the employees to empty money-filled drawers and stole about $12,000 before leaving, prosecutors said.
Later that night, both men were seen at the Twin River casino in Lincoln, where they were arrested, prosecutors said.
At the time, Worley had served more than six years in prison for his bank robbery spree in 2012, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island.
Now, Worley, 44, of Cranston, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery in connection with stealing from TD Bank in 2019, according to prosecutors.
Federal public defenders representing Worley didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Nov. 1.
Lage, who was accused of brandishing a knife when he joined Worley in robbing the bank, was sentenced to three years in prison in August 2021 after he pleaded guilty to the same charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
McClatchy News contacted an attorney who represented him and didn’t receive an immediate response.
Ahead of Lage’s sentencing, prosecutors wrote in court documents that “New Year’s Eve, normally a festive and happy night for most people, was turned into a night of fear and terror for” two TD Bank tellers.
One of the tellers told police that “he knew was going to be robbed when he saw two men enter the branch wearing black masks” and that Lage approached him while wielding a large knife, according to court documents.
The incident “severely traumatized” the other teller, a single mother, according to prosecutors.
The woman wrote in a letter to the court that: “As a single mom I have to work to support my family and I love my job and since then I get up sometimes and think if I want to go there because I’m scared.”
“I’m scared if they’re free are they going to come back to the bank to look for me because I said anything about them,” her letter continued, according to prosecutors.
Following the robbery, Worley and Lage were found at the casino because the car they used to drive to the bank earlier that day was captured by the bank’s security cameras, prosecutors said.
Then the car was seen at the casino with both men inside, according to prosecutors.
Worley is due back in court for a sentencing hearing set for Jan. 30, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
This story was originally published November 1, 2024 at 7:51 AM with the headline "Masked man robbed same bank a second time, then was caught at a casino, feds say."
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