On April 12, a jury in Tampa convicted Rafael Angel Rondon of being the "Band-Aid Bandit," suspected in the robberies of 39 banks in nine counties between 2000 and 2006. Rondon's brother-in-law, Emeregildo Roman, was also convicted.
The report did not say whether the two alternated in wearing the Band-Aid, or whether Rondon was el Bandito Primero and his brother-in-law just wore one of those little round Band-Aids, to signify his sidekick status.
Defense attorneys argued that authorities had the wrong men, possibly saying something like, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, just because my client happens to have a coincidentally located mole, a silver revolver similar to the Bandit's, car tags that match the getaway car, $90,000 in cash in his house with the robbed bank's name on the wrappers, and a brother-in-law who also happened to have thousands in cash, disguises and a gun of his own in his home, does not make him the Band-Aid Bandit."
Well, I guess that is all circumstantial evidence. Still, why not try out some other possible arguments:
- Offer a substantial reward for the "real bandits";
- Point to the total lack of DNA evidence;
- Point to the total lack of similarity with any "Law & Order" plotline; or
- Blame society for its cruel discrimination against those with distinctive moles.
Worth a try.
Link: AP via FindLaw.com
