Bank Bag Bandit Pleads Guilty to Multiple Bank Robberies

TAMPA—David Dwinell, (52, Palm Harbor) today pleaded guilty to bank robbery and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Dwinell faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, Dwinell committed five armed bank robberies in Pasco, Hillsborough, and Hernando Counties. While committing the crimes, Dwinell would enter the banks wearing a dark colored hat, sunglasses, mask over his face, and a dark-colored jacket. He carried a blue zippered bank bag and a silver revolver. During the robberies, Dwinell brandished the firearm as he approached the teller counters and demanded money. Several of the victims observed Dwinell fleeing the robberies in a gray Ford F150 pick-up truck.

During a search of Dwinell’s residence, agents located a loaded silver .38 revolver, a black baseball hat, latex gloves, a beige mask (panty hose), black zip-up jacket, a blue bank bag (which contained the latex gloves and panty hose), and a second blue zippered bank bag. Dwinell told law enforcement that these were the items he used in the bank robberies. Agents also located 100 $1 bills, 50 $10 dollar bills, and money still wrapped in bank bands. An additional $6,762.00 was located in Dwinell’s home office.

During a search of the Ford F-150 pick-up truck used by Dwinell in the bank robberies, officers located 62 $5 bills under the steering column and one black glove. Dwinell admitted that he committed the five armed robberies and stated that he robbed the banks because his house was in foreclosure and he had previously owed money to the Internal Revenue Service.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris and Colleen Murphy Davis.