Crime & Safety

Northern Virginia 'Blond Bandit' Deemed Flight Risk

Stephanie Schwab, 26, would have been in danger on the street, attorney says.

A 26-year-old Northern Virginia mother of two who authorities believe is behind a string of carjackings and bank robberies in the Washington metro area would have been in danger if she remained on the street, her attorney told reporters Monday.

Stephanie Lynn Schwab, who is from the Manassas area, was deemed a flight risk by U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan and will remain in custody until her trial. Some media outlets dubbed her the "blond bandit" during her alleged two-week crime spree.

Schwab has been pinned as the suspect in the Nov. 18 robbery of a Manassas Commerce Bank; on Nov. 19; the robbery of a BB&T in West Springfield on Nov. 22; an in Catonsville, Md.; and an attempted bank robbery of a BB&T in McLean on Nov. 30.

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After the botched McLean incident, Fairfax police chased Schwab into Montgomery County, Md., .

Schwab is a former MS-13 gang member. She provided key testimony in federal court in 2005 against four gang members on trial for killing a government informant, and two of them were found guilty, according to the Washington Post.

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A family member told the Post that Schwab had been associating with MS-13 gang members in early November, but they seemed unaware of her testimony.

Alfred "Rob" Robertson Jr., who was appointed to represent Schwab, said he'd seen no indication the young woman had been in recent contact with any gang members.

But he said the attention garnered by recent events put Schwab in danger if she remained on the streets.

"After the publicity, yes, I do think she's in danger," Robertson said. "The people at the Alexandria detention center are well aware of this, and I'm sure they'll take every step necessary to keep her safe."

Schwab was charged Thursday with a single count of felony bank robbery stemming from the Nov. 22 robbery in West Springfield. Schwab got away with about $1,830 in that case, according to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI.

After Monday's preliminary hearing in federal court in Alexandria, a grand jury has 30 days to return an indictment, which could include additional charges.

"We don't know what she's going to be charged with, ultimately," Robertson said.

Schwab's mother, Helen, was at Monday's hearing but declined to speak with reporters.

Robertson said he was appointed Monday morning and knew little more about recent events than what has been reported by the media.

"She's relieved to be off the street, relieved that it's over," Robertson said. "She's not being chased anymore. She's been caught. She's ready to face what comes next. So, in that sense, she's relieved."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Tonolli, who represented the government, declined to comment.

Peter Carr, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Virginia, stressed in a phone interview that federal charges do not preclude state charges.

Multiple law enforcement agencies in the Washington area have outstanding warrants against Schwab.


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