Bank-Busting Couple ID'd By Cops

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The Ponytail Bandit, now identified as Morgan Michelle Hoike, strikes in Austin, Texas

On February 12, 2008, cops in Austin, Tex. identified the elusive Ponytail Bandit as 21-year-old Morgan Michelle Hoke, a woman police believe is responsible for a string of bank heists.  But cops tell AMW that Hoke wasn't acting alone: they say she's been on the run with her husband, 26-year-old Stuart Michael Romine.  Together this modern-day "Bonnie and Clyde" have been responsible for a total of seven robberies.  Authorities say that Romine is a suspect for bank robberies in Houston, Sugarland, and Austin, Texas. 

Currently, the FBI and Austin law enforcement are on international manhunt for the bank robbing duo and tell AMW that Hoke and Romine were last spotted in Bangkok, Thailand.  Cops say that on Jan. 18, 2008, 4 days after Romine allegedly robbed the Wachovia bank that Hoke had previously robbed in 2007, the couple fled the country on a commerical airline departing from Atlanta, Georgia and arriving in Seoul, South Korea.  Once in Seoul, they obtained a second flight to Bangkok, Thailand.  

According to a police affidavit, on January 17, 2008, the FBI received information from a source who spoke with the Roseville Police Department claiming that the Ponytail Bandit was a 21-year-old woman named Morgan Michelle Hoke.  Roseville, Calif. was the scene for the second heist committed by the Ponytail Bandit.  The confidential source also told authorities that Hoke may be travelling with an unknown male that could be directing her to commit the heists.  Cops soon identified Hoke's partner-in-crime as her husband, Stuart Michael Romine.  According to the affidavit, the pair were married in Las Vegas on November 5, 2006.   Public records show that Romine has had addresses in Washington, Texas, and Michigan and that Hoke has previously lived in Oregon, Louisiana, Texas, and Colorado. 

Police say that both images of Hoke and Romine were also picked out of a photo lineup developed by Austin authorities for the Wachovia bank tellers. 

Cops Seek Bad Girl Bank Robber

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A bank in Lynwood, Wash. was the last known heist attributed to the Ponytail Bandit.

On May 7, 2007 at approximately 1pm, authorities say a young woman in her twenties entered Wachovia Bank on Mesa Drive in Austin, Texas and approached the teller with a note that requested 20, 50, and 100 dollar bills.  The teller gave the cash to the girl and watched her flee the bank by foot.  At that moment, the Ponytail Bandit was born. 

Footage from surveillance cameras show a woman, now identified as 21-year-old Morgan Michelle Hoke, with shoulder-length blonde hair in a ponytail waiting in line and approaching the teller.  She is described as having a thin build and was wearing a red sweater-type jacket and light to medium stone-washed jeans and carries a hand-bag.  Her ponytail was underneath what would become a staple part of her look -- a baseball cap. 

A few weeks later and almost 1800 miles away from the first heist, the Ponytail Bandit struck again, this time at a Wells Fargo Bank in Roseville, Calif.  On May 23, 2007,  authorities say a young blonde woman with a ponytail under her baseball cap entered the bank and demanded cash.  This time, officials say that the unknown female was wearing a white, hooded sweatshirt.  Police say she got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The Ponytail Bandit Strikes Again

One week after her California caper, First Heritage Bank in Lynnwood, Wash. was the next stop for the Ponytail Bandit.  Authorities tell AMW that on May 30, 2007, another robbery went down with almost identical circumstances.  Surveillance video shows that the she arrived at First Heritage Bank wearing a blue cap and a zippered sweatshirt and once again asked the teller for cash.  Authorities believe that she fled the scene on foot.  

The FBI says that the Ponytail Bandit remains calm and friendly throughout each robbery.  They also mention that she has a distinct mannerism where she crosses her arms and has her shoulders slouched forward.  The blonde-haired bandit also requests that the tellers smile as they give her the money.

The FBI and local law enforcement in three states are asking for the public's help with information leading to the arrest of 21-year-old Morgan Michelle Hoke and her 26-year-old husband, Stuart Michael Romine.

Cops: Ponytail Bandit Cuffed In Bangkok

21-year-old Morgan Hoke aka "The Ponytail Bandit"
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»More capture photos

21-year-old Morgan Michelle Hoke, a woman police have identified as "The Ponytail Bandit", was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand by the Thai Royal Police on February 13, 2008 at around 3:43 CST.  Authorities with the Austin Police Dept. tell AMW that while the suspected bank robber was apprehended without incident, her husband, 26-year-old Stuart Michael Romine has not been arrested.  Cops believe that he may still be in Thailand or may have fled to Vietnam or India. 

On February 14, 2008, AMW joined a multi-agency task force at Los Angeles International Airport to have cameras roll as Morgan Hoke exited a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok, Thailand.  She was transported to a jail in Los Angeles before heading to Austin, Texas to face charges the following day.