‘Spelling Bee Bandit’ nabbed, charged with 4 bank robberies

The “Spelling Bee Bandit,” wanted in connection with four bank robberies, was arrested Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

Jason S. Englen, 34, was charged with the robberies at three TD Bank locations and a Salem Five in the Greater Boston area between Halloween and mid-November.

Englen was already in police custody on unrelated charges when federal authorities arrested him.

On Oct. 31, Englen approached a bank teller in a TD Bank branch in Arlington and allegedly handed the teller a deposit slip with the word “ROBERY” written on it. The teller gave Englen money and he fled, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz’s office said.

Three more robberies occurred in the following two weeks and in each incident, the suspect used a note with “ROBERY” or “ROBERT” written on it.

Englen is due in court on Wednesday. If convicted, he faces no more than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution, according to prosecutors.