UPDATE: 43-year old Michael Terrelonge was sentenced to serve 62 years in prison for all of his bank robberies where he was dubbed the "bearded bandit." Michael Gene Terrelonge recently admitted his involvement in a total of 17 bank robberies and indicated that he is the “Bearded Bandit.” His partner, Latries George Murphy, has been implicated as well. The string of robberies that Mr. Terrelonge admitted his involvement in date back to the summer of 2004.
On October 1, 2009, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Terrelonge were arrested by CMPD officers minutes after fleeing from the armed robbery of the Wachovia Bank at 10210 Couloak Drive.
They bonded out on their state charges and were placed into the CMPD Electronic Monitoring Program. The United States Attorney accepted the case for federal prosecution and both subjects were federally indicted on December 15, 2009. Mr. Terrelonge and Mr. Murphy were arrested on December 18, 2009, based on the federal indictment.
CMPD Detectives, as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, led this extensive investigation. It is important to note that this investigation is in its early stages and is ongoing. Additional charges against both Mr. Terrelonge and Mr. Murphy will likely follow, but it is important to note that they have been formally charged with only the robbery of the Wachovia Bank at 10210 Couloak Drive, on October 1, 2009.
CMPD Detectives, as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, led this extensive investigation. It is important to note that this investigation is in its early stages and is ongoing. Additional charges against both Mr. Terrelonge and Mr. Murphy will likely follow, but it is important to note that they have been formally charged with only the robbery of the Wachovia Bank at 10210 Couloak Drive, on October 1, 2009.
The cases involved are listed below:
- BB&T - 101 Queens Road - 06/29/2004
- BB&T - 101 Queens Road - 06/29/2004
- US Airways Federal Credit Union - 2830 Boyer Street - 07/30/2004
- Clearview Federal Credit Union - 2830 Boyer Street - 07/07/2005
- RBC Bank - 14925 John J. Delaney Drive - 08/09/2005
- RBC Bank - 230 E. W.T. Harris Boulevard - 10/19/2005
- Wachovia Bank - 1527 W. Morehead Street - 12/30/2005
- First Citizens Bank - 7837 Pineville Mathews Road - 06/05/2006
- RBC Bank - 1000 East Boulevard - 11/01/2006
- Clearview Federal Credit Union - 2830 Boyer Street - 06/05/2007
- First National Bank (Gastonia) - 529 South New Hope Road - 04/03/2008 - RBC Bank- 14925 John J. Delaney Drive - 10/20/2008
- RBC Bank - 1000 East Boulevard - 10/30/2008
- SunTrust Bank - 7801 Pineville Matthews Road - 01/06/2009
- SunTrust Bank - 7801 Pineville Matthews Road - 01/06/2009
- Wachovia Bank - 10210 Couloak Drive - 11/25/2008
- Bank of Granite - 3920 Sharon Road - 07/03/2009
- RBC Bank - 1000 East Boulevard - 08/20/2009
- Wachovia Bank - 10210 Couloak Drive - 10/01/2009