‘Bad Hair Bandit,’ wife, face federal charges for Williamsburg bank robbery

Jason Fox, AKA The Bad Hair Bandit, and his wife, Tasha, appeared in a Whitley County courtroom earlier this week on state charges stemming from a string of recent bank robberies. Now the two face more serious federal charges.

The Williamsburg couple charged with robbing seven banks in southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee is facing federal charges stemming from the Dec. 1 robbery at L&N Federal Credit Union in Williamsburg.

According to officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jason Fox, the "Bad Hair Bandit," 30 and his wife, Tasha K. Fox, 26, were indicted by a federal grand jury in London on charges of armed bank robbery and conspiracy to carry and use a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence.

In addition, Jason Fox was charged with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The robbery occurred about 6:13 p.m. at the bank located inside the Williamsburg Walmart. According to police, a lone gunman entered the store and went up to the counter of the bank at the front of the store armed with a semi automatic handgun and demanded money from the teller. He then fled the store and jumped into the passenger side of a waiting car, which was seen heading west on Ky. 92.

Williamsburg Police put out a call to neighboring law enforcement agencies be on the lookout for the vehicle, described as a late model, back, four-door sedan with a blown driver’s side headlight.

The vehicle, later identified as a Suzuki Forenza, was located by Barbourville Police Detective Steve Owens near a bank in Barbourville. Owens stopped the vehicle and detained the driver, later identified as Jason Fox.

After reading Fox his Miranda warning, Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird said Fox agreed to cooperate with investigators and confessed to the seven robberies in Jacksboro and Jellico Tenn., Barbourville, Corbin, Pine Knot and Williamsburg.
Police executed a search warrant on the couple’s home later that evening. Tasha Fox came home at that time and she was detained for questioning and later charged.

The couple remains in custody and will return to U.S. District Court in London on Jan. 20 for arraignment.

Jason and Tasha Fox each face up to 25 years in prison for their respective parts in the robberies. In addition, Jason Fox faces an additional seven years on the firearms charge.