Christmas bandit caught, convicted

The bank robber dubbed “the Christmas bandit” by the FBI, who hit

three Southern California banks during the holidays including one in

Huntington Beach was convicted and awaits sentencing.

Guy Christopher Brooks began his crime spree just before Christmas. On

Dec 24 he robbed Cal Bank & Trust in Dana Point and then a Bank of

America in Lake Forest. Then, on Jan. 28, he robbed Union Bank in

Huntington Beach.

Brooks was arrested in Lake Forest when a patrol deputy with the

Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Marcus Perez, arrested Brooks for

domestic violence at a Lake Forest hotel. Perez linked Brooks to the

series of robberies when he recognized him from an flyer sent by the

FBI’s Bank Robbery Apprehension Task force. Physical evidence linking

Brooks to the each of the robberies was found in the hotel room.

Brooks was on probation from a prior robbery conviction when he

committed the crimes, officials said. He is scheduled for sentencing on

July 15.