FBI Launches Digital Billboard Campaign to Identify “Fake Beard Bandit”

OKLAHOMA CITY—James E. Finch, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Oklahoma, and Brian A. Truchon, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Kansas City, announce the launching of a digital billboard campaign to identify the “Fake Beard Bandit.” The Fake Beard Bandit may have robbed seven banks in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. The banks include:

• 08/03/2011 - Bank of Midwest, Olathe, Kansas
• 07/25/2011 - Bank of Blue Valley, Shawnee, Kansas
• 07/13/2011 - Hometown Bank, Joplin, Missouri
• 06/29/2011 - IBC Bank, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• 06/10/2011 - Bank of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• 05/26/2011 - Bank of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• 05/24/2011 - First National Bank of Coweta, Coweta, Oklahoma

The Fake Beard Bandit is described as a white male in his 20s or 30s, 5’8” to 6’00” in height, 150 to 180 pounds. Typically, he enters the bank prior to the robbery without a disguise but wears sunglasses and grabs a deposit slip or other bank paperwork. Later in the day, he returns wearing a large brim hat, a fake beard and uses a pistol to intimidate the bank employees and customers. He verbally demands cash, has everyone lie on the floor, and exits the bank on foot. In at least four of the robberies, the Fake Beard Bandit has been seen driving away in a silver or gray Volkswagon vehicle, possibly a Jetta.

A reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification and/or arrest and conviction of the Fake Beard Bandit. Anyone with information regarding this robber should call 1-800-CALL-FBI or their local FBI office.

Lamar Advertising will continuously show the photograph of the Fake Beard Bandit on its digital billboards in the following areas:

• Oklahoma City
• Tulsa, OK
•  Kansas City, MO (also displays in Kansas)
• Hannibal, MO
• Joplin, MO
• Missouri, MO
• Springfield, MO
• Topeka, KS