$100K Reward Is Offered for AK-47 Bank Robber

The Robber Has Hit Banks in the West and Midwest, Sometimes Wearing Police Garb

ByABC News
September 30, 2014, 5:16 PM
This surveillance image provided by the King County Sheriff's Office shows a man armed with an assault rifle robbing a Chase bank in North Bend, Wash., on July 6, 2012.
This surveillance image provided by the King County Sheriff's Office shows a man armed with an assault rifle robbing a Chase bank in North Bend, Wash., on July 6, 2012.
King County Sheriff's Office/AP Photo

— -- A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered to anyone with information on the whereabouts of a bank robber the FBI has dubbed the AK-47 bandit, who has hit banks in the West and Midwest, sometimes wearing police garb.

The robber is wanted for five bank robberies in California, Washington, Idaho and Nebraska and an attempted one in California. He is also wanted for the attempted murder of a police officer who tried to stop him during one of his robberies.

"He has gotten a significant amount of money," said Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, who could not divulge the sum of money he stole from each bank due to FBI policy. "He's robbed multiple tellers."

The FBI has released video footage and photos which show the robber dressed in a black balaclava-style ski mask, black gloves, blue body armor and in some, a green vest with the word, "sheriff" on the back. He is also shown wearing a star-shaped sheriff's badge during some robberies and is said to drive a 2009-2011 gray Nissan Maxima as getaway car. The car has chrome wheels and dark tinted windows, according to an FBI statement.

The robber is described as a white male age 25 to 40, 5'9 to 6'0 tall and weighing 180 to 230 lbs.

The FBI asks that anyone who may recognize his appearance, voice or car description to contact their local FBI office or the nearest American embassy or consulate. The FBI is offering $50,000 of the reward, the City of Chino, California is offering up to $20,000 and the East Idaho Credit Union up to $20,000, and California Bank and Trust, up to $10,000.

"He's clearly demonstrated an ability to move from state to state...we don't want to rule out any state, any given area," said Eimiller.