Suspect Linked to “All Ears” Bank Robbery Series Arrested; Due in Court Today

A man suspected of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery was arrested on Monday in the city of Los Angeles, announced Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Stepan Dovlatyan, 25, was taken into custody at his residence without incident on Monday, August 1. He was in court for an initial appearance on Tuesday and was allowed to post bail in the amount of $20,000.

Dovlatyan was indicted by a federal grand jury in United States District Court in Los Angeles on July 22, 2011 for charges including one count of bank robbery and two counts of attempted bank robbery. The alleged robbery took place on March 12, 2011 in Bell Gardens. The alleged attempted robberies took place on 3/14/11 in Carson; and on 3/19/11 in Echo Park. Investigators are continuing to investigate whether Dovlatyan is responsible for additional robberies.

Investigators identified Dovlatyan based on evidence left at one of the banks. Prior to identifying Dovlatyan through forensic investigation, investigators linked several bank robberies by using the suspect’s description and method used, and attributed the series to the “All Ears Bandit,” based on witness accounts describing the suspect as having large ears.

Dovlatyan is scheduled to return to court today to enter a plea on the charges in the indictment.

For more information about current fugitive bank robbers, please visit www.labankrobbers.org.