SANTA ANA – A bank robber known as the “Bladed Bandit” who carried out a series of hold-ups in Long Beach and Orange County was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.
Chad Dupape, 29, of Fountain Valley pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple federal counts of armed robbery.
Along with the time behind bars, Dupape during a sentencing hearing at the federal courthouse in Santa Ana on Monday, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release and to pay more than $25,000 in restitution to the banks he robbed, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
FBI officials dubbed Dupape the “Bladed Bandit” for the large knife he brandished during hold-ups. He also admitted to showing a teller a handgun during one of the robberies.
Dupape robbed a Chase Bank branch in Seal Beach on Jan. 2 and a U.S. Bank branch in Fountain Valley on Jan. 18. He attempted to rob a Farmers & Merchants Bank branch in Long Beach, and a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Fountain Valley, both on Jan. 16.
Still awaiting sentencing is Vincent Edward Wilson, 53, of Long Beach, who admitted to driving Dupape to the Chase Bank and U.S. Bank robberies, and to serving as a lookout during the Chase Bank robbery. According to prosecutors, Wilson admitted that he and Dupape split up the proceeds.