A retired 33-year veteran New York Police Department officer was sentenced Friday to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to a string of bank robberies across Nassau County in the summer of 2008.
Athelson Kelson, 61, of St. Albans, Queens, pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery on Feb. 4.
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Kelson, also known as the “Bling Bandit” for the flashy jewelry he wore while robbing banks, robbed a Chase bank in Franklin Square while armed with a handgun on July 7, 2008, Nassau County prosecutors said.
He also robbed a Bank of America in New Hyde Park on Aug. 4, 2008 and a Chase bank in West Hempstead on Aug. 26, 2008.
In each robbery he handed a note to the teller demanding cash, and got away with between $1,000 and $6,000 each time, prosecutors said.
Kelson is also currently facing robbery charges in Queens for multiple bank robberies.
