MARTIN COUNTY

Suspected 'Shaky Bandit' arrested in Collier County by FBI

Emily Bohatch
Treasure Coast Newspapers
Martin County Sheriffs release a photo of a man the FBI deemed the "Shaky Bandit" in connection with a robbery at Wells Fargo in Palm City Monday afternoon. The man is suspected to be connected to at least 10 other bank robberies.

MARTIN COUNTY — The "Shaky Bandit," a man the FBI suspected was responsible for possibly 11 bank robberies across Southeast Florida, was arrested late Tuesday, according to a Facebook post from the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

More:FBI arrests serial bank robbery suspect in Collier County

The FBI identified the suspect as Brandon Venditti, 22, of Weston. The Sheriff's Office said he was arrested less than 24 hours after he robbed a Wells Fargo bank in Palm City. 

Brandon Venditti

Though the case is being investigated by the FBI, the Sheriff's Office was lending a hand, Snyder said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Federal authorities arrested the man in Collier County late Tuesday afternoon, according to the Facebook post and a news release from the FBI.

After a reported bank robbery about 5 p.m., Collier County Sherriff's deputies, Florida Highway Patrol troopers and FBI agents located a car that was a possible getaway vehicle used in the robbery, the FBI said. The car would not pull over, and it crashed around mile marker 91 on Interstate 75. 

Venditti surrendered after the crash, the FBI said. Another person in the car also was arrested and placed into state custody.

No one was injured, according to the FBI.

Venditti is scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday in the Middle District of Florida, in Fort Myers, according to the FBI.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office joined the investigation after two robberies on the Treasure Coast late Monday afternoon. The "Shaky Bandit," who earned the name from the way his hands shake during a robbery, robbed a Chase Bank off of Port St. Lucie Boulevard in St. Lucie County at about 5 p.m. Half an hour later, he robbed a Wells Fargo in Palm City, officials said. 

No one was harmed during the string of burglaries.