"Crown Royal Bandit" Bagged
Georgia banks... and the Crown Royal Company of Norwalk, Connecticut... can breathe a little easier today. That is because Bruce Allen Hughes, the legendary "Crown Royal Bandit," is finally behind bars and has been indicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Hughes, who apparently had a fondness for Canadian whiskey, robbed about 30 banks in Georgia and Tennessee over a decade, taking over $300,000. Hughes' trademark during his crime spree was his use of a purple Crown Royal bag which he ordered bank tellers to place loot in. Hughes, a resident of Madison County, Georgia, apparently reeked of alcohol during his last robbery, of an Athens, Georgia, bank, and complained to customers that banks had foreclosed on his home, tips which were used by FBI agents who arrested Hughes at his home. Hughes is charged in the indictment with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, armed bank robbery and use and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He will be arraigned sometime after April 24.
