‘Bad Hair Bandit,’ wife, to be sentenced for string of bank robberies Thursday

The saga of the bank robber known as, “The Bad Hair Bandit,” will come to a close Thursday when Jason Fox and his wife, Tasha, are formally sentenced in federal court.

The Fox’s are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Gregory VanTatenhove in London at 10 a.m.

In a sentencing memorandum filed Sept. 16, Jason Fox’s attorney, Patrick Nash, asked VanTatenhove to consider sentencing his client at the low end of the sentencing range, which suggest a sentence between 235 (19.6 years) and 293 months (24.4 years)

“Even at the low end of this range, Jason would receive a sentence of almost 20 years in federal prison,” Nash stated. “The undersigned respectfully submits that a low end guideline sentence is more than a sufficient punishment in this case and that a higher sentence would be too severe.”

In addition to the time Jason Fox has spent in local jail while the case has gone through the legal process, Nash stated his client has agreed to forfeit his family home as part of the restitution.

Nash added that while Jason Fox came from an accomplished family and appeared to be on the right course throughout school, including college, his downfall came as the result of an addiction to prescription pain medication that he began taking to combat the pain related to scoliosis.

“Apparently, Jason had a proclivity for abuse of these pills because it didn’t take long for him to become a serious addict,” Nash stated.

Nash added that Jason Fox has been prescribed the anti-depressant Wellbutrin, but did not take it as prescribed.

“Not surprisingly most, if not all of Jason’s criminal episodes have occurred at times that he was not taking Wellbutrin and was instead in the throes of prescription pain pill addiction,” Nash stated.

Nash went on to state that Jason Fox did not receive any substance abuse therapy while he was incarcerated and turned to Suboxone to help cope with his addiction.

“In the spring of 2011, he was simply a Suboxone addict, and it was an expensive habit,” Nash stated. “He was also trying desperately to support his wife, children and parents. He was battling depression. Not surprisingly, his decision-making was terrible. In June of 2011, he robbed a bank in Tennessee and no one was physically hurt. He kept doing it. Finally, and thankfully, he was arrested in December 2011.”

In addition to Fox’s attorney’s memorandum, several other friends and family members have written letters to VanTatenhove on Jason and Tasha’s behalf.

The Reverend Anthony Carter, pastor at Red Bird Baptist Church, asked VanTatenhove to impose the most lenient sentence on Jason and Tasha and to place them at the nearest correctional facility.

“Doing so would allow the Fox family to support and personally minister to them during their rehabilitation efforts,” Carter stated.

Jason Fox’s father, Donnie, and uncle, David Fox, asked VanTatenhove to be as lenient as possible in sentencing his nephew so that his family may one day enjoy his company outside of the prison walls. In addition, he asked the judge to assign him to a facility with rehabilitation programs so Jason Fox may gain the skills to once again become a contributing member of society.

“Sir, I know I have asked a lot of you, but Jason is my son,” Donnie Fox stated in closing his letter. “I could do no less.”

Jason Fox pleaded guilty in April to one count of bank robbery and four counts of armed robbery for the five banks in Knox, McCreary and Whitley counties in Kentucky, during which he took $61,041.88. In addition, he pleaded guilty to two count in an information indictment charging him with the robbery of banks in Jellico and LaFollette, Tenn., during which he took a total of $18,484.50.

The first robbery occurred on June. 9, 2011 at First Volunteer Bank in Jellico, Tenn.

On June 17, 2011, Fox struck at Commercial Bank in Barbourville.

On July 5, 2011, Fox robbed the Bank of McCreary County in Pine Knot. It was on this occasion, that Tasha Fox became involved, driving the getaway car for the first time.

Jason Fox returned to Barbourville, striking Forcht Bank on Aug. 19, 2011. Once again, Tasha Fox drove the getaway car.

Jason Fox’s next target was the Hometown Bank of Corbin on Oct. 25, 2011, with Tasha Fox driving the getaway vehicle.

Jason Fox was back in Tennessee on Oct. 28, 2011, hitting Y-12 Federal Credit Union in LaFollette with Tasha Fox driving the getaway car.

The last robbery occurred Dec. 1, 2011 at the Walmart branch of L&N Federal Credit Union in Williamsburg.

The teller complied with Jason Fox’s demand to put the money in the bag he had brought, but when she began putting in the rolls of coins, Fox reportedly stopped her, took the bag and fled the scene.

Williamsburg Police received information on the make and model of the vehicle, which they traced to Tasha Fox through a traffic ticket.

A family member confirmed to police that Jason Fox owned the vehicle and a notice was sent out to area law enforcement to be on the lookout for the vehicle. Barbourville Police Det. Steve Owens, passed the vehicle soon after, initiated a traffic stop and took Jason Fox into custody. After several hours of questioning by police and Tennessee FBI agents, Jason Fox confessed. 

Williamsburg Police arrested Tasha Fox on Dec. 2, 2011.

Tasha Fox pleaded guilty to her part in the robberies on Feb. 21.

When VanTatenhove asked, Tasha Fox got straight to the point, admitting to driving the getaway car in five of the robberies.

Tasha Fox is facing 12/5 years to 15.5 years in prison.