COLUMBUS – Federal authorities say a man dubbed by law enforcement as the “Buckeye Bandit” has pleaded guilty to eight counts of armed bank robbery.
A Justice Department release says Ikechi Emeaghara pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Columbus.
Emeaghara was dubbed the “Buckeye Bandit” because he typically wore an Ohio State University shirt and hat during the eight robberies he was charged with carrying out in Columbus, Gahanna and Powell between October 2013 and October of last year.
A message seeking comment from his attorney, Kia Wrice, wasn’t immediately returned.
Court records say police found more than $53,000 in cash bound by bank straps, a baseball cap and a mask.
Armed bank robbery is punishable by up to 25 years in prison and when the charge includes forcing someone to accompany the suspect without their consent, as Emeaghra allegedly did on three occasions, it is punishable by a mandatory minimum 10 year prison term.