Guilty Plea Expected from 'Bearded Bandit'

The case of the "Bearded Bandit" appears to be close to a conclusion. Court documents show suspect Justin Worley, 34, will admit to robbing nine banks, including one in Seekonk, Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha announced Friday. The other eight robberies took place in Rhode Island.

"According to court documents, Worley will plead guilty to nine counts of bank robbery," a press release from Neronha's office states. "Worley will admit to the court that on nine separate occasions he entered financial institutions, and using implied or explicit threats, including the threat of death in at least four of the robberies, he robbed the banks of a total of $32,633."

Worley was arrested in September at Motel 6 in Seekonk. He allegedly robbed Bank of America in Seekonk Feb. 23 while wearing what authorities suspect was a fake beard as well as other disguises. The eight other robberies took place from April 16 to Sept. 18.

The maximum penalty for bank robbery is 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of three years, according to Neronha's office.