Home » Santa Clarita News » Crime » ‘Seasoned Bandit’ Pleads Guilty To Four Bank Robberies

‘Seasoned Bandit’ Pleads Guilty To Four Bank Robberies

The “Seasoned Bandit” pled guilty to four bank robberies Thursday, and is set to forfeit his signature getaway vehicle — the PT Cruiser, officials said.


Sponsored Articles


Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox.

James Allen Hayes, 55, faces up to 80 years behind bars after signing a plea deal with the United States Attorney’s Office.

As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit a Chrysler PT Cruiser, which was purchased immediately after one of the bank robberies, and used as a getaway vehicle for others.

Hayes was charged of 10 bank robberies and one count of attempted bank robbery. The “Seasoned Bandit” held up five banks and credit unions throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.

He pleaded guilty to four heists in Newhall, Valencia and Santa Barbara County, in which he got away with a total of about $40,000.

See Related: ‘Seasoned Bandit’ Trial Set For February, Includes 10 Counts Of Bank Robbery

Hayes went on a five-month bank robbery spree from April to September of 2017, stringing up almost a dozen financial institutions along the way, according to prosecutors.

The hit list included five banks in Santa Clarita, including California Credit Union and Logix in Valencia, a Wescom Credit Union in Stevenson Ranch, a Chase Bank in Newhall and a two-hitter at the Wells Fargo on Lyons Avenue.

Other banks allegedly robbed by the Seasoned Bandit range in location from Santa Maria to the Pacific Palisades, according to the U.S. District Court.

Arrest records show that Hayes was taken into custody by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department around 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 2.

The FBI had placed a license plate reader camera at the intersection of Chiquito Canyon Road and Henry Mayo Drive along the 126, which they believed to be the Seasoned Bandit’s most likely route between robberies in Los Angeles County and Santa Barbara County, according to the FBI.

On Sep. 25, approximately 15 minutes after the second robbery attempt of the Wells Fargo Bank, a California license plate registered to the suspect was recorded as driving westbound, read the indictment.

Hayes is expected back in court on June 7 for sentencing. He could face up to 80 years in prison.

Did you spot a correction? Let us know by emailing Corrections@hometownstation.com

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and sign up for KHTS email and text alerts today!

‘Seasoned Bandit’ Pleads Guilty To Four Bank Robberies

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Devon Miller

Devon Miller was born and raised in Santa Clarita. He joined KHTS Radio as a digital marketing intern in September of 2017, and later moved to news as a staff writer in December. Miller attended College of the Canyons and served as the Associated Student Government President. Miller is now News Director for KHTS, covering breaking news and politics across the Santa Clarita Valley.