‘Cross-Dressing Bandit’ sentenced for robberies

updated 7:00 p.m. ET Aug. 12, 2009

CAMDEN, N.J. - A man who robbed banks in New Jersey and Connecticut while disguised as a woman has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.

Investigators dubbed Huy Trong Luong the Cross-Dressing Bandit.

The 41-year-old Jersey City, N.J., resident was caught after a bank teller yelled for help during a holdup in May 2008. Police found a black wig, woman's hat and makeup kit in his getaway van.

Luong admitted committing or attempting nine bank robberies in five months. He told bank tellers he had a bomb. He pleaded guilty in March to charges stemming from two of the robberies.

He also was ordered Wednesday to pay $39,000 restitution and serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term.

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