‘Undead Bandit’ Sentenced to 14 Years for Bank Robberies

A serial bank robber who led police on a high-speed chase across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.

Dubbed the “Undead Bandit” by the FBI, Carter Briscoe Tucker, 54, pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in December of 2019. Last Friday, he was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Karen G. Scholer.

In plea papers, Mr. Tucker admitted to robbing ten banks across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex from October 2017 to August 2019 and stealing in excess of $52,000. During the commission of most of the bank robberies, Mr. Tucker wore a Halloween-style mask, all black clothing, gloves, and a holster on his left hip, which contained a .45 caliber pistol.

On August 3, 2019, Mr. Tucker entered a Wells Fargo bank in Alvarado, Texas.  He approached the bank teller, placed a cooler on the counter, and stated, “Give me all your money. No dye packs. No trackers, and nobody is going to get hurt.” Afraid for her life, the teller complied with Mr. Tucker’s demand and handed over cash.

Local law enforcement were alerted to Mr. Tucker’s license plate number and he was located leaving the bank. Mr. Tucker fled the scene at speeds in excess of 100 mph when authorities attempted to pull him over. Police deployed spike strips in an effort to disable his vehicle, but Mr. Tucker continued to drive with flat tires. Eventually, Mr. Tucker bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Law enforcement arrested him the following day.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation and Alvarado Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Texas DPS assisted with the arrest. The following agencies aided in the robbery investigations: Denton Police Department, Grapevine Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, Balch Springs Police Department, Keller Police Department, Argyle Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Alvarado Police Department and Fort Worth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith prosecuted this case.