CANYON COUNTRY : ‘Hole in the Wall’ Robber Convicted

Roderick Scott Russell, a member of a three-man bank robbery crew the FBI had dubbed the “Hole in the Wall Gang,” has been convicted of nine federal felony counts, authorities said Friday.

Russell, 21, of Canyon Country was convicted Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles of four counts of armed bank robbery, four counts of bank robbery and one count of conspiracy, the FBI said. He could receive a term of up to life in prison when he is sentenced June 7.

Brent Darrin Zubek, 24, and Jonathan David Henderson, 25, both of Canyon Country, had previously pleaded guilty to various related felonies. Both await sentencing.

Armed with a bayonet, a hammer and other tools, the “Hole in the Wall Gang”--a name originally given a Wild West gang that included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid--would break into banks before dawn, then order arriving employees to open vaults.

The gang robbed five Security Pacific National Bank branches in Los Angeles and San Diego counties in a spree that began Oct. 4, 1991, and ended May 14, 1992, the FBI said.