Alleged bank robber, 73, hit hard by economy, friend says

When Steve Judeh saw the images of James Bruce walking to a police car, handcuffed and surrounded by reporters, he recognized him right away.

"It was heartbreaking,'' Judeh said. "I never thought in a million years I would see what I seen on TV and in the newspaper."

Police say the 73-year-old Bruce robbed three banks, taking only $600 each time. The Tampa Police department says Bruce was trying to pay his mortgage.

Judeh runs a convenience store on Hillsborough Avenue near 50th street. He got to know Bruce almost 17 years ago, when he was running another store around the corner from Bruce's home.

Over time the two men developed a friendly relationship. "He's a nice man, work hard all his life, take care of his family, and that's what's shocking to me when I saw him."

Judeh says the older man came in often and told him about his job, his life and vacations, but recently something changed.

"Everybody you talk to these days, it's about the economy, everything is about the economy. I know he had a good job once. He was making a lot of money with the ships on the port and all that. He was taking his wife on a cruise and all that, but the last couple of years, I noticed things change a little."

Judeh says Bruce started asking to run a tab for small items, borrowing money for cigarettes, gas and beer. a few months ago, Bruce started asking for money.

"He was running through financial trouble because he come here, he been coming to me about three four times last month,'' Judeh said. "He asked me for money and I gave him some money and I gave him some cigarettes and some gas, but he kept on calling me every week, almost two, three times asking me for money. With the economy I can only do so much."

Two weeks ago, Judeh says Bruce stopped asking for money. Tampa police say that on the afternoon of Feb. 2, Bruce walked into the Bank of America branch at 100 N. Westshore, handed the teller a note and demanded money.

Bruce is being held in a Hillsborough County jail on $22,500 bail and is charged with three counts of strongarm robbery. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for each charge.

"He's trying to keep his family in their home, but you can't go about it by robbing a bank," Tampa Police Detective Rachel Cholnik said.