Getaway Cab Gave Accused Bank Robber Away

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A 79-year-old Holiday man faces criminal charges after a Tuesday morning bank robbery.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a silent alarm from the Suncoast Credit Union, 3422 U.S. 19, in Holiday at 9:26 a.m. June 6. When deputies responded to the alarm, they learned a man arrived at the bank in a cab, got out and walked inside. The man then proceeded to hand a note and bag to the teller.

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After receiving the bag back from the teller, the man reportedly got back into the cab and left the scene. Deputies put a bulletin out on the cab shortly after the man’s getaway.

It didn’t take long for New Port Richey Police to spot the cab at the Travel Inn within the city limits. Officers approached the suspect and found he had thrown the bag of money into his room, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

The man was detained by officers at 9:47 a.m. – 21 minutes after that silent alarm came in.

The accused robber was positively identified by two witnesses to the robbery, deputies said. He has been identified as Vincent Anthony Ianellia.

“The suspect is being cooperative and said he was down on his luck and needed money to pay his hotel bill. No weapon was displayed or recovered. The money was recovered at the location at the Travel Inn, where the suspect was detained and subsequently arrested.”

Ianellia was being booked into the Land O’ Lakes Jail Tuesday afternoon. A booking photo was not yet available.

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