The Washington Post via Chattanooga Times Free Press
RICHMOND, Va. — A man known as the “Granddad Bandit,” who prosecutors say robbed 25 banks in more than a dozen states, was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison.
Michael Mara, 53, began his spree by robbing a Richmond, Va., bank in 2008 and went on to target banks from Texas to New York, authorities said. He evaded capture for a year and a half, even though he seemed unconcerned about disguising himself and his image was clearly captured by surveillance cameras.
Mara pleaded guilty in February in U.S. District Court in Richmond to robbing two Virginia banks. As part of the agreement, he will not be prosecuted for robberies in other states, but all were considered by the sentencing judge.
“One robbery alone is a very traumatic experience and it takes a long time for the victim to feel safe going to work,” Neil MacBride, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement. “Mr. Mara will spend the rest of his productive life behind bars as punishment for his extensive crimes.”
Mara, who most recently lived in Baton Rouge, La., has a long criminal history that includes convictions for robbery, forgery and larceny, according to court papers. Federal prosecutors argued that Mara would likely commit more crimes if he were free.
Mara’s attorney said he has long suffered from mental health problems. Before the 2008 robbery, he “attempted to re-start his life,” Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Wilson said in court papers, but had little support and few vocational skills. He got a job as a tow truck driver but struggled financially, she said.
In December 2008, Mara went to a SunTrust Bank in Richmond and fled with $1,850.
In all, prosecutors say, he admitted to stealing $83,868.
Copyright 2011 Chattanooga Publishing Company