‘Seasoned Bandit’ signs plea deal
James Allen Hayes admits to robbing 4 banks—some in SCV
The “Seasoned Bandit” signed a plea deal with prosecutors admitting he robbed four banks, according to federal prosecutors Thursday.
James Allen Hayes, who won the lottery back in 1998—a cash prize of $19 million— signed a plea agreement Feb. 23. The document was filed with the United States District Court on Monday, Thom Mrozek, U.S. Attorney’s
Office spokesman said Thursday.
Prosecutors initially accused Hayes of driving a gold-colored PT Cruiser to 11 different banks between Pacific Palisades and Santa Maria. The FBI dubbed him the “Seasoned Bandit,” and he is scheduled to be sentenced March 15.
A copy of the plea agreement obtained by The Signal shows prosecutors put the total amount of money stolen by Hayes to be $39,424.
Hayes admitted in the deal that he robbed four banks: the Union Bank in Carpinteria on May, 24, 2017; the Wells Fargo Bank on Lyons Avenue in Newhall, on June 12, 2017; The Logix Federal Credit Union on McBean Parkway in Valencia on July 25, 2017; and the Coast Hills Credit Union in Santa Maria on Sept. 6, 2017.
He also admitted purchasing his gold-colored PT Cruiser with money stolen from a Union Bank location.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hayes will forfeit the gold-colored PT Cruiser to authorities to offset restitution in paying back banks that were robbed.
Hayes, according to the agreement, understands that the maximum sentence he faces is 20 years for each bank robbery—amounting to a total of 80 years in prison. The judge presiding on the Hayes case, however, is expected to consider several factors on sentencing such prior convictions, if any, and the fact that Hayes spares the court time and expense by pleading early on in his trial.
Hayes also admits in the deal that he understands he has to “pay full restitution” to the victims of the offenses—the banks.
Hayes is alleged to have robbed five SCV banks, as well as banks along the coast including: Carpinteria, Goleta, Santa Maria and Pacific Palisades, according to the 12-page Grand Jury indictment filed against him.