SEATTLE — A Bothell man accused of being the “Tour de Banks” robber was charged Tuesday with eight counts of first-degree robbery.
A King County judge set bail for Cristian Babalai, 29, at $2 million. He is due to be arraigned Oct. 29.
Police allege that Babalai had robbed eight banks in Snohomish and King counties since May 2012 to feed a gambling addiction.
Babalai also owns a nursing home in the north Bothell area, which has been shut down by the state pending an investigation.
Babalai reportedly threatened to shoot tellers during several of the robberies, according to charging documents.
He has no felony history in the U.S.
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