COLUMBUS (WCMH) — A man dubbed the “Buckeye Bandit” has now been charged with 8 armed bank robberies in central Ohio, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.
A federal grand jury indicted Ikechi Emeaghara, 27, of Columbus on seven counts of armed robbery Thursday. He had been charged with another count in November.
He could face even more charges, as investigators continue to look into at least 20 other robberies in the area.
The Department of Justice says Emeaghara allegedly brandished a dangerous weapon and demanded cash from bank tellers on the following dates (according to public court documents):
- October 31, 2013 at the Wesbanco Bank on South Stygler Road in Gahanna
- November 30, 2013 at the Cooper State Bank on West 5th Avenue in Columbus
- December 6, 2013 at the Wesbanco Bank on South Stygler Road in Gahanna
- July 9, 2014 at the Smart Federal Credit Union on North High Street in Columbus
- January 12, 2015 at the Cooper State Bank on Sawmill Road in Columbu
- April 26, 2015 at the Cooper State Bank on Sawmill Road in Columbus
- March 17, 2016 at the First Merit Bank on East Powell Road in Powell
- October 21, 2016 at the Key Bank on Frantz Road in Columbus (original indictment)
In the July 2014, January 2015, and April 2015 cases, Emeaghara allegedly forced one or more people to accompany him within the bank.