“Bucket List Bandit” Pleads Guilty To Robbing 11 Banks Across 10 States

ERIE, Pa. — The notorious ‘Bucket List Bandit’, Michael Eugene Brewster, 54, has entered a guilty plea in federal court for his role in a brazen bank robbery spree that spanned 10 states. United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced the news of Brewster’s conviction.

Brewster faced 11 counts before United States District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin, including the September 10, 2012, heist at the Huntington National Bank in Erie. He also waived indictment for his involvement in a string of bank robberies between June 21 and September 10, 2012.

Between these dates, Brewster robbed banks across the nation, utilizing a consistent method of operation. He entered each establishment without disguise, wearing similar clothing, carrying a dark leather notebook, and presenting demand notes with identical threatening language. After acquiring funds, he fled in a black SUV, which police identified as stolen from Pensacola, Fla.

Surveillance footage from the Erie Huntington Bank, along with images from area cameras, clearly depicted Brewster and his vehicle. The comparison of these photos with those from the 10 other bank robberies confirmed that each was committed by the same individual. It was a tip from the FBI that led to Brewster’s identification as the bandit.

According to information provided to the court, in addition to his criminal spree, Brewster had an outstanding arrest warrant for stealing a black Chevy Captiva SUV in Pensacola. His identity was confirmed through his Florida driver’s license and evidence of the stolen vehicle. Law enforcement partners in each jurisdiction confirmed Brewster’s role in their respective bank robberies.

Brewster’s last known crime, at the Chase Bank in Arvada, Colo., on June 21, 2012, was marked by him presenting a demand note that claimed he had only four months to live. He threatened retribution if any silent alarm was activated during his thefts. The spree of violence and financial loss came to an end with Brewster’s arrest.