> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Judge ‘Dread’ gives bandit 1,200 years
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/judge-dread-gives-bandit-1-200-years/
- Published: 2006-01-12T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:02:40.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*‘Bandit’ gets 1,200 years in jail*

*By Daily Press staff*

Torrance — The man known to authorities as “The Dreadlocks Bandit” and convicted of robbing dozens of banks — including two in Santa Monica — was sentenced to 1,210 years in prison on Wednesday.

David Lee Robinson robbed Encino State Bank, located at 720 Wilshire Blvd., on Sept. 20, 2004, and Pacific Western Bank, located at 120 Wilshire Blvd., on Oct. 22, 2004, amid his robbing spree throughout Los Angeles and the South Bay.

Torrance Superior Court Judge Eric Taylor sentenced the 54-year-old Robinson to 1,210 years to life in prison and 22 life sentences after his conviction on 19 counts of robbery at banks throughout Los Angeles.

In October of 2005, Robinson was convicted of 22 counts, including three counts of attempted robbery, by a jury of 10 women and two men. Before he was sentenced, Robinson admitted to having six prior strikes against him, according to Deputy District Attorney Warren Kato.

When apprehended by Torrance police on Oct. 30, 2004, Robinson was on federal probation after serving 14 years for robbing 30 banks over a two-year period in the 1980s. He was arrested while driving out of the Carson Street Western Financial Bank parking lot, a bank that had been robbed several days earlier.

Robinson is known as the “Dreadlocks Bandit” because of the long braids of hair he wore during the robberies, FBI officials said.

During the robberies, Robinson typically entered the bank and presented a note to the teller demanding money. He has been described as being discreet during the robberies, alerting only the teller that a crime is taking place.

Approximately $70,000 was taken during Robinson’s recent string of robberies.

In addition, Robinson threatened to shoot or kill the bank tellers, and in at least one instance, was seen with a knife according to FBI officials. Robinson, described as a transient, had a demeanor that was considered calm and friendly by witnesses. Authorities allege that he is a drug addict.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/011206-01_01.jpg)

of the FBI David Robinson, aka ‘The Dread-lock Bandit,’ is seen here robbing California National Bank in Glen-dale on Sept. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 12, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/011206.pdf?ref=smdp.com)