“Bandana Bandit” Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison

EUGENE, OR—David Mitchell McFarland, age 31, of Grants Pass, Oregon, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by the Honorable Ann Aiken to 262 months in prison, a five-year term of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $100,000 in restitution for committing several bank robberies. McFarland robbed six banks in Oregon, Missouri, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He also admitted that he committed bank fraud in Oregon and illegally possessed a firearm in Alabama.

McFarland committed the bank robberies between March and November 2007 and was dubbed the “Bandana Bandit” because he used a kerchief to hide his face during the robberies. In four of the bank robberies, McFarland threatened bank employees with a pistol as he demanded money. He was ultimately arrested in Alabama on a warrant out of the District of Oregon.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was responsible for the successful investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk A. Engdall handled the prosecution of this case.