Updated: 1/10/2008 9:08:47 AM
Six bank robberies in about two months.
Authorities say all the crimes are tied to one man.
The black tape robber racked up that record before investigators say they finally caught him Tuesday night.
25-year-old Travis Carver faces up to 25 years in prison and $250,000 in fines if convicted.
"Last night for some reason, I turned the channel at the right time and thought, 'Gee whiz, are they ever gonna catch this guy?' not knowing he was across the street from me," neighbor Tricia Merica said.
Pictures of the black tape robber have made many a newscast over the past two months.
While police searched everywhere for him, neighbors say he just came and went from a West Knoxville apartment complex.
"I never thought it was my neighbor," Nick Ajlens said. "I didn't know who this was until this morning when I turned the TV on. I said, 'You're kidding me--is that him really?' It really shocked me and my wife. It's crazy."
Police arrested Carver at his Teaberry Lane home Tuesday night.
"I've seen him take his child in and out of the car," Merica added. "I've seen him with his wife, and I wouldn't have ever thought he was the one."
Investigators credit tips from the public for getting the serial bank robber into custody including one from a Knox County Sheriff's Deputy who recognized Carver from Carver's criminal past.
They say it appears Carver even changed his disguise, because his mother in Texas got suspicious.
As a former resident, she pays close attention to Knoxville news outlets.
"She saw the photos and recognized some of the clothing that she had given him as a gift," FBI Supervisory Agent Michael MacLean said. "She said, 'Isn't that you in those pictures?' He denied that was him."
Right now, Carver only faces charges for two of the six robberies investigators believe he committed.
More charges will likely follow.
He stands accused of robbing the Citizens National Bank inside the Morrell Road Food City on December 10th and another robbery on December 17th at the same place. His crime spree stems from November 9th to January 8th.
According to the affidavit, Carver went to a pawn shop on North Broadway and pawned a gun that matched the description of one shown in the December 17th robbery.
"He has been escalating his violence in these robberies, which was of great concern for us," Agent Maclean said. "Many times, it is feeding a drug habit. I think in this case we will determine it's similar. He was feeding a drug habit, which doesn't help in stability and propensity."
"You figured he'd stop after one or two robberies, but I guess greed got the best of him," said neighbor Cole Hammontre.
Carver has a criminal history that includes trespassing, along with drug and theft convictions.
His next court date is January 18th.
Carver appeared before Federal Magistrate Bruce Guyton in Knoxville Wednesday morning.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE of the "black tape" robber
Carver was arrested after one attempted and one successful bank robbery, both in West Knoxville Tuesday.
That robber has become known as the "black tape" bandit because in each of the robberies, he appeared to have wrapped electrical tape around one or more of his fingers.
Carver lives on Teaberry Lane, just blocks from the Morrell Road Food City where he's accused of two robberies and one attempted robbery of the in-store bank in recent weeks.
FBI agents, along with Knox County Sheriff's Deputies and KPD officers worked together to arrest Carver at his home just after 11:00 pm Tuesday night. He was taken into custody without incident.
Carver is now charged with armed robbery and robbery stemming from bank heists on December 10 and 17, 2007. More charges are expected.
Carver has a past criminal history that includes:
- a 2004 arrest for criminal trespass
- a 2004 drug conviction
-a 2004 theft conviction
-a 2005 theft conviction
-a December 3, 2007 theft arrest
CLICK HERE to view Travis Carver's criminal record (PDF)
His next court appearance will take place on January 18.
We'll have more on this developing story as details become available.
