'All Ears Bandit' caught by FBI

BELL GARDENS - A man suspected of robbing a Bell Gardens bank in March was arrested Monday in Los Angeles, the FBI announced.Stepan Dovlatyan, 25, was taken into custody at his home without incident on Aug. 1. He was in court for an initial appearance on Tuesday and was allowed to post bail in the amount of $20,000. Dovlatyan was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 22 for charges including one count of bank robbery and two counts of attempted bank robbery. Dovlatyan is suspected of robbing a bank in Bell Gardens on March 12, and attempting to rob two banks in Carson and Echo Park. Authorities are investigating if Dovlatyan was behind any other robberies. Investigators linked Dovlaytan to the robberies due to his large ears, which earned him the monker "All Ears Bandit" from the FBI. Forensic evidence also links Dovlaytan to the robberies, although investigators did not elaborate.

********** Published: August 11, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 17