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Band-Aid Bandit's Family Seeks Property

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2007

Photos | Comment

TAMPA - The Band-Aid Bandit's house in Clermont was a focus of his bank robbery trial in April.

Now that he's residing at Coleman Federal Prison in Sumter County, Rafael Rondon's family is trying to hold onto the house at 1893 Vale Drive as well as his 2001 Lincoln Navigator, 1999 Chevy Blazer and 1997 Dodge pickup. Although a judge ordered that the home and vehicles be forfeited, relatives have filed court papers arguing they have claims to them.

Rafael Rondon

Rondon was sentenced to 149 1/2 years in prison after being convicted of one charge of conspiracy and six counts each of armed robbery and use of a firearm in a crime of violence. Authorities said Rondon, who gained his nickname from the bandage he wore to cover a mole during many of the robberies, was responsible for heists at 39 banks from Sarasota to Gainesville from 2000 through 2006, taking nearly $1 million.

Crucial evidence was found in the homes of Rondon and Emergildo Roman, his brother-in-law and sidekick. Investigators found a cooler in Rondon's garage containing wigs, fake mustaches, makeup, a gun, plastic ties, ski masks and more than $90,000 in cash from FifthThird Bank in Pinellas Park, which was robbed last year.

During the trial, the government presented evidence linking six bank robberies to Rondon's missed mortgage payments.

George Heinemann, an auditor for the U.S. Attorney's Office, testified he tracked the defendants' incomes and expenditures through receipts found in their homes covering November 2003 through August 2006.

In that time, Rondon had $200,463 in income, including his wife's salary and a check from his father to help make a down payment on his house, Heinemann said. Documents for the period showed Rondon spent $385,218. Adding that to the $85,394 in cash investigators found in Rondon's house, Heinemann came up with a total of $470,612, leaving a difference of $270,149 between his documented income and his total expenditures and cash.

Rondon's attorney during the trial, Daniel Hernandez, said Rondon had legitimate explanations for his income. Hernandez said his client earned under-the-table income as a handyman and received cash gifts from his father. Rondon's parents and wife, Sandra Nicholson, testified in support of those claims.

Hernandez no longer represents Rondon. According to court papers, Rondon paid Hernandez $30,000, a fee that did not cover the cost of his appeal, which is to be handled by the public defender's office.

Nicholson, a postal worker, submitted a hand-written claim to the court last week saying she has been employed "before, during and after the purchases" of the house and vehicles that were made with savings and income tax refunds.

"I've made mortgage payments" on the house "and continue to do so at this time," Nicholson wrote.

Rondon's father, also named Rafael, said in a statement submitted to the court Monday that he and his wife co-signed the mortgage and made a payment of $35,000.

"Also, I have been giving money to my son for the last five [years] for some improvement done to the house."

Information from Tribune archives was used in this report. Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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