| For Immediate Release Case # 12HF1290 May 8, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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MAN DUBBED “SNOWBOARDER BANDIT” CHARGED WITH COMMITTING ROBBERIES IN 10 ORANGE COUNTY BANKS
SANTA ANA – A man dubbed the “Snowboarder Bandit” was charged today with committing robberies in 10 Orange County banks. Michael Brandon Franks, 29, Riverside County, is charged with 10 felony counts of second degree robbery and two felony counts of attempted robbery. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison. He is being held on $250,000 bail and is scheduled for a continued arraignment hearing on May 18, 2012 at 10:00 a.m., Central Jail, Santa Ana.
Between Dec. 20, 2011, and March 21, 2012, Franks is accused of committing 10 robberies at nine different banks in Orange County. The bank chains included Bank of America in Anaheim, Chase Bank in Laguna Hills and Laguna Niguel, Citibank in Irvine, two robberies at the Schools First Federal Credit Union branch in Anaheim, Union Bank in Newport Beach, US Bank in Irvine and Ladera Ranch, and Wells Fargo in Irvine.
Franks is accused of attempting to rob a bank teller at the Citibank branch in Irvine and the US Bank branch in Irvine where he is accused of committing robberies before.
In each of the cases, the defendant is accused of carrying out similar acts: entering the bank wearing distinctive headgear which included a beanie, approaching a teller, and slipping the teller a note stating he had a gun and demanding money. The defendant is accused of causing the tellers to give the money to him out of fear. The defendant is accused of taking the money and walking out of the bank. From the 10 robberies, Franks is accused of taking a total of approximately $30,000.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including Anaheim Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Irvine Police Department (IPD), Newport Beach Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
On Friday, May 4, 2012, IPD arrested Franks at his home in Riverside County.
Deputy District Attorney Angela Gunderson is prosecuting this case.
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