Florida attorney unmasked as serial bank robber as he’s arrested on way to 6th heist in less than a month
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) arrested a 41-year-old attorney from Miami on Tuesday, October 20, on suspicion of being a serial bank robber in the South Florida area. The lawyer, identified as Aaron Honaker, allegedly robbed at least five banks in the past weeks and according to authorities, he was on his way to rob a sixth bank on Tuesday night when he was apprehended. Authorities did not reveal the information on the bank he was allegedly planning to rob.
A local police officer reportedly recognized him from a description of a suspect in the downtown area. It is believed that Honaker is also responsible for the raids at Wells Fargo, Chase, Citibank, and HSBC branches in the Coral Gables, Dania Beach, and Aventura neighborhoods since September 30. A robber, at approximately 3:45 pm, approached a Citibank branch, located at 396 Alhambra Circle in Coral Gables, and demanded money from an employee there. Reports state that there were customers at the bank during the robbery but no injuries were reported. A similar bank robbery occurred on October 5 at 3:43 pm at Wells Fargo Bank 2555 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables. Three days later, a firearm was presented during an 11.56 am robbery at a Wells Fargo Bank 5991 Ravenwood Road, Dania Beach.
After another robbery on October 10 at approximately 4.50 pm at Chase Bank branch at 355 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, the FBI said that they were seeking information about the robbery suspect. The most recent robbery connected to the suspect was made on October 15 at the HSBC Bank branch at 2222 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Coral Gables.
Coral Gables police officer Bob Alonso credited a veteran sergeant with Honaker's arrest, saying: "Sergeant Gwynn was able to identify the individual after studying his mannerisms and all indications there and was able to summon other units who were in the area immediately and they formed a uniform surveillance ring and apprehended the subject.” When asked whether he had ever arrested a suspected bank robber who was also an attorney, Alonso responded saying he had not and it was very unusual. “No, not to my knowledge. It’s highly unusual," he said, according to Miami CBS Local.
Shortly after Honaker's arrest, Coral Gables Police Chief Edward Hudak released a statement, saying: "I am proud of the efforts and initiative of our officers and the FBI in safely arresting this individual before anyone one else's safety was put in jeopardy." The suspect was scheduled to make his first court appearance on Wednesday.
Honaker is listed as an attorney on the Florida Bar at Martinez Morales, however, a partner at the firm on Wednesday, October 21, said that he disappeared two years ago. He graduated from Duke University School of Law and joined the Bar in 2008. Honaker then worked at Greenberg Traurig until 2011, and Bilzen Sumberg in 2012, then Salazar Jackson, which is now named Salazar Law.
Records show that the attorney has previously been arrested for petty larceny, forgery, and battery. Last December, his girlfriend reportedly told Miami police that they fought because of jealousy issues. She also alleged that he grabbed her and pulled her hair.