Florida man robs bank after gambling money away on horses and Texas hold ‘em

A 73-year-old Florida man who robbed a St. Lucie County bank told authorities that he “needed the money” after gambling his money away on Texas hold ‘em and horses.

John Dougherty put black underwear over his face during the robbery at TD Bank and used a loaded shotgun. He was arrested and booked into St. Lucie County Jail on one charge of armed robbery and eight counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

During the robbery, there were seven employees and one customer in the bank. Dougherty left with a bag filled with $20 and $50 bills -- and a bank robbery detection device.

When Dougherty was taken into custody, deputies found the shotgun and $1,800 in cash in his pocket. “The suspect told me he was on a fixed income and gambled away his money on horses and Texas hold-em,” a deputy wrote in an arrest report.

Dougherty told authorities he never intended on using the loaded gun.

“This was great work by our deputies who responded quickly to the area,” St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said in a statement. “They used the information provided by witnesses at the scene and were able to quickly apprehend the suspect in a matter of minutes following the bank robbery.”

[Palm Beach Post] [WPTV]