news-record.com

CHARLOTTE (MCT) -- The Charlotte bank robber infamously known as the "Bearded Bandit" has been sentenced to more than 60 years in prison.

Michael Gene Terrelonge, 43, was the man behind many disguises in surveillance images of a series of bank robberies from 2004 to 2009. He often wore fake beards and moustaches, and sometimes wore heavy makeup, wigs, surgical gloves and even padding.

His quick holdups and disguises helped him elude police because witnesses gave conflicting descriptions.

He was suspected of robbing 17 area banks.

Terrelonge was finally apprehended as he fled from the scene of an armed robbery at a Wachovia branch in northwest Charlotte in October 2009.

In his getaway van, police found the hat, mask, gloves and a pistol used in the bank robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Officers discovered Terrelonge was wearing a bulletproof vest and was carrying a revolver.

Terrelonge later admitted to being the "Bearded Bandit," prosecutors said.

Latries George, who was accused as the driver of the getaway van in the Wachovia robbery, pleaded guilty to armed robbery charges last year. He was sentenced to more than five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $4,000 in restitution.

A federal jury in October 2010 found Terrelonge guilty of robbing three Charlotte banks at gunpoint.

On Thursday, he was sentenced to 62 years in prison and ordered to pay $16,875 in restitution.

"Over a period of five years the Bearded Bandit engaged in a series of bank robberies that terrorized our community," said U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins. "The 62-year sentence imposed on Mr. Terrelonge ensures that he will no longer be able to threaten our citizens' safety."