Skip to main content
Press Release

Man Alleged to be ‘Buckeye Bandit’ Charged with 7 more Armed Robberies

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio

COLUMBUS – A federal grand jury indicted Ikechi W. Emeaghara, 27, of Columbus, today in a superseding indictment charging him with seven additional armed bank robberies. He was indicted on one other count of armed bank robbery on November 10.

Emeaghara is alleged to be the armed robber dubbed as the “Buckeye Bandit” by law enforcement. Investigation continues on at least 20 other robberies in central Ohio.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Brad Earman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Field Office; Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs; Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott; Delaware County Sheriff Russell L. Martin; Ohio State University Police Chief Craig Stone; Worthington Police Chief Jerry L. Strait, Jr.; Upper Arlington Police Chief Tracy Hahn and Gahanna Police Chief Dennis Murphy announced the superseding indictment returned today.

According to public court documents, Emeaghara allegedly brandished a dangerous weapon and demanded cash from bank teller’s drawers on the following occasions:

  • October 31, 2013 at the Wesbanco Bank on South Stygler Road in Gahanna
  • November 30, 2013 at the Cooper State Bank on West 5th Avenue in Columbus
  • December 6, 2013 at the Wesbanco Bank on South Stygler Road in Gahanna
  • July 9, 2014 at the Smart Federal Credit Union on North High Street in Columbus*
  • January 12, 2015 at the Cooper State Bank on Sawmill Road in Columbus*
  • April 26, 2015 at the Cooper State Bank on Sawmill Road in Columbus*
  • March 17, 2016 at the First Merit Bank on East Powell Road in Powell
  • October 21, 2016 at the Key Bank on Frantz Road in Columbus (original indictment)

* Denotes armed robbery charges that also include forcing one or more persons to accompany him within the bank.

Armed bank robbery is a crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Armed robbery including forcing one or more persons to accompany the defendant without their consent is punishable by at least 10 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by law enforcement and Deputy Criminal Chief Gary L. Spartis and Assistant U.S. Attorney Salvador A. Dominguez, who are prosecuting the case.

A federal indictment merely contains allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Updated December 16, 2016

Topic
Violent Crime