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Man, 70, Arrested In 2 Bank Robberies

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: August 20, 2008

Joseph A. Bender

PORT RICHEY - A 70-year-old man faces accusations he robbed two West Pasco banks within the past week.

Joseph Augustine Bender, 7311 Ingleside Drive, Port Richey, was taken into custody late Tuesday afternoon, not long after he was accused of committing the heist at the Bank Atlantic office at 8522 U.S. 19, according to the Pasco Sheriff's Office.

Bender also is the suspect in a holdup Aug. 15 at Colonial Bank, 9431 U.S. 19, deputies say.
Bender was booked into the county jail in Land O' Lakes on two counts of bank robbery. His bail initially was set at $300,000.

In the Tuesday robbery at the Bank Atlantic office, a man handed a note demanding money to a teller and left with currency. Bank employees made positive identification of Bender from photos, deputies say.

A detective also identified Bender as the robber from a bank surveillance video, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies found Bender's vehicle at a motel at 7532 U.S. 19 and found Bender inside one of the motel rooms.

Deputies found about $700 in $10 bills with serial numbers matching bank records, according to the Sheriff's Office.

In the earlier robbery, at the Colonial Bank branch, the suspect handed a note to a teller claiming the robber had a bomb and demanding money. Three bank employees identified Bender as the suspect.

Bender refused to talk to a detective about the robberies, according to arrest records.

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