CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say a man has admitted to being the "Bearded Bandit" and says he's responsible for 17 bank robberies in the Charlotte area.
Michael Gene Terrelonge, 41, is currently being held on federal charges related to a robbery at Wachovia Bank on Couloak Drive.
Terrelonge and 42-year-old Latries George Murphy were arrested minutes after fleeing the bank in October. Terrelonge told police that Murphy was involved in other robberies as well.
The pair was released on bond after the October robbery. They were taken into custody again on Dec. 18 on a federal indictment.
Police say Terrelonge and Murphy are only charged in the Wachovia robbery for now, but more charges are likely.
Investigators say the Bearded Bandit has been connected to 17 robberies beginning in the summer of 2004.
In all of the cases, the robber wore a wig, fake facial hair, makeup, glasses, hat, gloves and a padded suit.
The cases linked to the Bearded Bandit are listed below:
BB&T, 101 Queens Road, June 29, 2004
US Airways Federal Credit Union, 2830 Boyer Street, July 30, 2004
Clearview Federal Credit Union, 2830 Boyer Street, July 7, 2005
RBC Bank, 14925 John J. Delaney Drive, August 9, 2005
RBC Bank, 230 E. W.T. Harris Boulevard, Oct. 19, 2005
Wachovia Bank, 1527 W. Morehead Street, Dec. 30, 2005
First Citizens Bank, 7837 Pineville Mathews Road, June 5, 2006
RBC Bank, 1000 East Boulevard, Nov. 1, 2006
Clearview Federal Credit Union, 2830 Boyer Street, June 5 2007
First National Bank (Gastonia), 529 South New Hope Road, April 3, 2008
RBC Bank, 14925 John J. Delaney Drive, Oct. 20, 2008
RBC Bank, 1000 East Boulevard, Oct. 30, 2008
Wachovia Bank, 10210 Couloak Drive, Nov. 25, 2008
SunTrust Bank, 7801 Pineville Matthews Road, Jan. 1, 2009
Bank of Granite, 3920 Sharon Road, July 3, 2009
RBC Bank, 1000 East Boulevard, August 20, 2009
Wachovia Bank, 10210 Couloak Drive, Oct. 1, 2009
