‘Crown Royal Bandit gets 127 years in jail; five years supervised release
The "Crown Royal Bandit" was sentenced Monday to more than 100 years in jail for his 11-year, 29-bank robbing spree between May 1997 and February 2008.
A U.S. District judge gave Bruce Allen Hughes, 48, a 127-year sentence in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on five counts of armed bank robbery, six counts of using a firearm while committing a violent felony, and one count of gun possession by a convicted felon.
"This defendant victimized unsuspecting costumers and employees of dozens of banks over the course of a decade," said acting U.S. attorney Sally Quillian Yates.
Hughes also9 was ordered to repay about $300,000 in restitution, all following his guilty plea in August 2009.
The Blairsville man became somewhat of a legend during the 11 years he was on the run, known for using a purple "Crown Royal" liqour bag to collect the cash he stole.
His robberies began in Roswell, and spanned across the country, including other Georgia locations, including Athens, authorities said.