"Bearded Bandit” Bank Robber Admits to Robbing Same Rhode Island Bank Again

"Bearded Bandit” Bank Robber Admits to Robbing Same Rhode Island Bank Again

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Rhode Island announced on Thursday that a Cranston man, previously convicted in federal court and incarcerated for more than six years for robbing nine banks in 2012, admitted to a federal judge this week that he participated in the robbery of an East Providence bank on New Year’s Eve in December 2019.

It also happens to be a bank he had previously robbed during his 2012 spree, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Justin Worley, 44, known previously as the “Bearded Bandit,” admitted that he entered the bank late in the afternoon of December 31, 2019 with another person, and that they each approached a teller and demanded that they empty their money drawers. 

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The second man, later identified as Nicholas Lage, 38, brandished a knife during the robbery. Between them, the two men fled the bank with approximately $12,000. They were spotted and arrested later in the evening at Twin River casino.

 

Sentencing Scheduled

Worley pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2025. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Nicholas Lage pleaded guilty on April 1, 2021, to charges of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery.  He was sentenced on August 6, 2021, to 36 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.