KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A serial bank robber suspect known as the “Seasoned Bandit” — who has robbed several Santa Clarita Valley banks — won $19 million in the lottery in 1998.
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James Allen Hayes, 55, was charged for allegedly committing 10 bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Counties between April and September, and officials confirmed Wednesday that he won the lottery in 1998.
“We didn’t believe (it) at first either,” said one official who is familiar with the investigation. “(Hayes) blew through all the money and then resorted robbing banks to pay his bills.”
Related: ‘Seasoned Bandit’ Serial Bank Robber Arrested
From Hayes’ 1998 lottery win, his ex-wife received half of the money and he ultimately ended up with a $6 million lump sum, officials said.
With his winnings, he purchased an apartment building — which burnt down after he sold it — and a Ferrari that he wrecked.
Officials also confirmed that he is broke and has a $1,000-a-week heroin addiction.
When law enforcement officials caught him this week, he was squatting at a place in Ventura.
According to an L.A. Times article published in 1998 about Hayes’ lottery win, it was the second-largest Ventura County lottery winner ever.
From the article:
(Hayes) plans to buy a new car. He is already house hunting in Camarillo’s ritzy Spanish Hills development. And, he has given his two weeks’ notice to quit his job.
“Wouldn’t you?” said a smirking Hayes.
“I’m not going to blow the money,” he added. “I know I’ll change. But only for the better. . . Mainly what I want to do is help out my family and friends in need.”
An FBI affidavit obtained by KHTS states the robberies were committed in a similar manner, using a note that requested between $5,000 and $10,000, and in nine of the robberies, claiming to have a gun. Hayes is currently in federal custody.
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Nobody spends that much on a personal junk habit unless they are being swindled.
I’m not even rich and I spend a bit more than that a week on dope.. about 1.5g a day. If I were rich I’d be spending way more on it but I’d forgo things like luxury cars and just get a nice little apartment so I could hang on to most of my savings while maintaining my habit
Some of your statements are untrue. This is my brother in law. News always leaves out or adds things that make a story better. Sad. Leaving out important facts is what you do best.
What parts are added or untrue, if you don’t mind me asking?
Nancy, I agree with Nick…your brother in law is a loser and you are too for not turning him in and letting this go on for so long. Peoples lives were in danger because of this man and you didn’t turn him in?! None of your family called on him…your sister, no one?! You all should be punished for that….so you’re ALL losers!
Oh my. Lolorina, I did not know about this until the day after he was arrested. Our family in CA found out when they read the news. We were all shocked to say the least.
We don’t speak to him much. Have a wonderful day!
Looks like a solid story. Your brother in law is a loser.
Nick….LOL AGREED! Loser!!!!!
Unfortunately he’s my brother in law too. It’s been a personal embarrassment for 18 years! You are right, he is a total loser! He’s a swindling scam artist that has never cared about anyone but his own sorry excuse for a human life.
He never spent anything helping anyone. He was and always will be selfish narcissistic ass that has contributed nothing to society except the poison he’s spewed upon my family. I tried warning my family years ago but know one would listen. Didn’t take them long to figure out I was right. I grew up with this POS and the lotto ticket was his grandma’s. He took it from her. I can tell you countless stories about this guy! He’s left my sister strung out on drugs and I hardly recognize the beautiful woman that she was. I pray she’s not involved and gets the help she needs!!! If anyone out there wants the facts…contact me! I’d love to do an interview and answer all the questions that come from this tragic story.
This guy scammed money from my mom for years after crapping his winnings down the toilet.
I am delighted he’s going to prison, in fact I think it’s hilarious???? funny part is he’s burnt every bridge in his life and there will be nobody to put money on his books.
I’m surprised I haven’t been contacted already. I reserve the right to any book or movie deal that comes out of this!
That’s right, I publicly reserve the right to his story. I’ll see that my mother is reimbursed and my sister gets offered the best rehabilitation a person could have.
I reserve copyrights to this story and would love to work with a writer to make this unbelievable story public.
Maybe it might help someone who thinks money makes you entitled to treat other human beings like garbage.
I can be contacted through this thread…
Chip – Do you know what Security Company he use to work for?
Hey chip, this is Stephanie, Jim’s x wife. Your comment on here sadly seems pretty accurate. I can’t believe what he has turned into. I was beyond shocked when I read this and was made aware of this by family and
Friends. As for your sister, I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say. I had no idea he had any kind of drug habit. I knew things weren’t good when I found out he was back working at dial security. The only thing I can say that is not true in this rightfully so rant is that the lottery ticket was his grandmothers $5 but he went and got it, plus he did not take it from her. She said that she was to old and had him sign his name to it. I was there that morning. I hope your sister gets away from him and gets the help she needs.
Damn bro. Terrible. I hope you make it. He sounds like a real POS. Make lemonade deombthe lemons in your life and I do hope you and your family correct the poison and move on productively. Chris
Chip, instead of choosing to turn your drug user, money stealing brother-in-law in to the authorities, you allowed him to continue to rob various banking institutions and scare low paying bank tellers to death. Now all you can talk about is doing a book deal on your brother-in-law while he’s in jail. It seems to me the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In my mind, you are also a POS loser just like your loser brother-in-law!!!
I’m sorry you feel that way. I will pray for you that you will know peace.
I appreciate your opinion…if I could have done something, if I would have known he was hurting people I know I would have been the first to report him.
Yeah Chip….why didn’t you turn your POS loser brother in law in when you saw him all over the news? You let him do what he did to so many people and you didn’t turn him in?! You’re a sorry loser too #loserfamily
Now you want to make money off a book or interviews?! Classy….
If I had known I would have been the first person to turn him in…trust me. I don’t live in the Santa Clarita area and it wasn’t “all over the news”, where I’m at.
Sorry you feel that way…
Sorry Chip. I would have thought news would reach Camarillo being that he robbed backs between Santa Clarita and Santa Maria.bin any case, hopefully he gets what he deserves and hopefully your sister will get the help she needs and break the heroine addiction. It’s all super sad really….just sucks that he had to danger others along the way
Has anyone heard from Wesley?