Rude Bank Robber|Admits He Did It

SAN DIEGO (CN) - A rude bank robber known as the Insistent Bandit pleaded guilty Tuesday to six federal counts of bank robbery and one attempted robbery.

Steve Edward Ruby, 54, of El Cajon admitted he robbed a bank in Santee two times, and when he returned for a third hit, tellers recognized him and wouldn't let him in, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Ruby didn't get much for his efforts. He got a total of $3,103 from his two robberies of the Pacific Western Bank in Santee, prosecutors said.

"In the first robbery, Ruby admitted he told the teller: 'This is a robbery. I am not kidding. I have a gun. I'll shoot (use) it. Give me all your loose money.' When he returned the second time, the plea agreement said, he terrorized the same teller, saying in a loud voice: 'We're going to do this again! Give me all your loose bills starting with your third drawer and no bait!'," prosecutors said in the statement.

They added: "In one of the robberies, Ruby was seen riding a woman's red mountain bike and wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt with the logo, 'Bite Me.'"

He might have done better getting himself an honest job. Ruby got $607 robbing a Home Bank of California in San Diego; $1,211 from a US Bank in San Diego; $1,432 from a Pacific Western Bank in El Cajon; and - his big score -$9,903 from a Wells Fargo branch in San Diego.

Ruby's getaway driver in two robberies, Spiros Romensas, was convicted at trial of two counts of aiding and abetting. Romensas, 53, of La Mesa, will be sentenced on July 15.

Ruby will be sentenced on Sept. 3. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each of seven counts.

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