KNOXVILLE, TN—The FBI is increasing the amount of the reward offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the “Too Tall Bandit”. Agents are offering up to $15,000 dollars for information on the serial bank robber, whose last known heist was in Strawberry Plains in Knox County in November of last year.

Knoxville’s Safe Streets Task Force believes the man, dubbed the “Too-Tall Bandit” could be responsible for as many as ten bank robberies in East and Middle Tennessee and at least one pharmacy robbery in Farragut dating back to 2009. The first known robbery was in 2009 at a bank in White House, Tennessee, until two in one week in Jefferson and Knox Counties last year.

From 2009 through 2012, the known robberies were confined to White House, Franklin, and Gallatin in Middle Tennessee. Known robberies in East Tennessee commenced in 2014, in Farragut, Jefferson City, Pigeon Forge, and Knoxville.

In all ten bank robberies, the “Too Tall Bandit” walked behind or jumped over the teller counter, threatened bank employees with a handgun (held in his right hand), and instructed bank employees to help him place money from the vault and teller drawers into a bag or backpack he brings with him. The suspect then instructs bank employees to identify monetary security measures. Before leaving, he then orders them to lie on the floor. All but one of the known robberies occurred in the Fall season of the year.

Usually, the robber exited the rear of the bank and was not observed in any getaway vehicle. In the robbery of Farragut Pharmacy on December 18, 2014, the suspect walked behind the pharmacy counter and instructed employees to place prescription opioids into a bag the robber brought with him, similar to the bank robberies.

While victim and witness descriptions vary slightly, they generally agree the “Too Tall Bandit” is a male, approximately 40 years old, standing 6'3” to 6'6” tall, 210 to 250 pounds, possibly with brown eyes. He speaks with a deep voice, and walks with a limp or unusual gait affecting his right leg. The robber wears dark-colored clothing, dark-colored gloves, work boots or shoes, and wears a Halloween style mask or other face covering to obscure his identity. The suspect speaks with a non-southern accent.

Anyone with information regarding these crimes should call the FBI Knoxville Field Office at (865) 544-0751 or submit a tip online at: https://tips.fbi.gov.

Additional information, photos, and video may be available when updated at https://bankrobbers.fbi.gov.

Below is a list of bank and business robberies for which the FBI believes the “Too Tall Bandit” may be responsible:

• November 27, 2009
  Volunteer State Bank
  White House, Tennessee
• November 12, 2010
  Sumner Bank & Trust
  Gallatin, Tennessee
• November 09, 2012
  SunTrust Bank
  Franklin, Tennessee
• March 31, 2014
  First Tennessee Bank
  Farragut, Tennessee
• November 24, 2014
  Tri-Summit Bank
  Jefferson City, Tennessee
• December 18, 2014
  Farragut Pharmacy
  Farragut, Tennessee
• November 13, 2015
  Home Federal Bank
  Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
• October 27, 2016
  Capital Bank
  Farragut, Tennessee
• November 17, 2017
  BB&T Bank
  Jefferson City, Tennessee
• November 24, 2017
  Citizen’s National Bank
  Knoxville, Tennessee