GA ‘Crown Royal Bandit’ Pleads Guilty

The so-called “Crown Royal Bandit” has pleaded guilty in federal court to armed robbery and weapons charges. Bruce Allen Hughes appeared in a Gainesville court Friday morning. The 48-year-old was expected to plead guilty in January to committing a series of robberies in Georgia and Tennessee over an 11-year-period but changed his mind at the last minute.

AP
Published: August 21, 2009

» 0 Comments | Post a Comment

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) - The so-called “Crown Royal Bandit” has pleaded guilty in federal court to armed robbery and weapons charges.

Bruce Allen Hughes appeared in a Gainesville court Friday morning. The 48-year-old was expected to plead guilty in January to committing a series of robberies in Georgia and Tennessee over an 11-year-period but changed his mind at the last minute.

Hughes was arrested in Madison County, Ga., last year.

FBI Special Agent Greg Jones says the guilty plea likely will lead to a life sentence for Hughes, who authorities say robbed 29 banks in the two states before he was apprehended. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.

Hughes’ nickname comes from him using a signature purple velvet Crown Royal bag to haul away his loot.