“Ho-ho-hold up: Man in Santa regalia robs Florida bank and is convicted for possession of a hoax bomb”

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Santa Claus, the universal symbol of holiday cheer and good will, is often associated with joy and happiness. However, there have been instances where individuals dressed as Santa Claus have engaged in criminal activities during the Christmas season. From bank robberies to drunken Santas, here are five alleged criminals who tarnished the image of Santa Claus.

In 2013, a man wearing a Santa costume and sunglasses robbed a bank in Florida on Christmas Eve. The suspect, identified as 64-year-old Mark Neal London, claimed that the gift-wrapped package he was carrying was an explosive. After fleeing the scene, the bank was evacuated, but it was later determined that the package was not explosive. London was arrested three days later and charged with possession of a hoax bomb, armed robbery, grand theft, and false imprisonment. He was convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison.

In 2009, a man dressed as Santa Claus entered a bank in Nashville and demanded cash from bank tellers at gunpoint. He explained that he was robbing the bank to pay his elves. The suspect managed to escape, and it is unclear whether he was apprehended.

Also in 2009, a man dressed as Santa Claus stumbled into a Wisconsin woman’s yard while intoxicated. He hugged her children and repeatedly asked them about his reindeer. The woman called the police, who found the drunk Santa in a car with his brother. The intoxicated Santa was charged with possession of an open can of beer in a vehicle, while his brother was charged with impaired driving.

In 2006, a man dressed as Santa Claus rode up on a motorcycle with a stuffed Rudolph in his sidecar. He charmed a family with his jovial personality and engaged in conversation with the children. However, when the father went into a convenience store, he returned to find his eldest daughter missing from their car. The family chased after the man, reaching speeds of at least 80 miles per hour, and confronted him in a church parking lot. The man claimed he was just in “Santa mode” and apologized for his actions. He was later charged with kidnapping.

In a bizarre incident in Charleston, a man dressed as Santa Claus was arrested after stealing golf carts from a hospital campus. Brandon Brigman, 28, was caught sitting on a golf cart in the school’s parking garage. He was charged with grand larceny, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

These incidents serve as a reminder that not everyone who dresses as Santa Claus during the holiday season has good intentions. It is important to remain vigilant and cautious, even in the presence of someone dressed as the beloved Christmas figure..