Mother who robbed three banks, pleads guilty

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Investigators say 50-year-old Cindy Carabeo robbed three banks back on May 11 in Brandon, all in less than 25-minutes.

Why did she do it? Court documents say she wanted to throw a graduation party for her daughter and that she was behind on rent.

The robbery spree started at the BB&T on Brandon Boulevard at 3:19 p.m. -- then 16-minutes later she robbed the Wells Fargo on Kings Avenue.  Five minutes after that, it was the Florida Central Credit Union on Oakfield Drive.

They're all less than a mile apart.

In each case she handed the clerk a note one of them ended with, "Happy Mother’s Day", another said "I will not hesitate to shoot." 

Just like her speedy crimes however she was arrested quickly too within 15 minutes of the last robbery.

Thursday in Federal Court Carabeo pled guilty to one count of "affecting interstate commerce by robbery," as part of a plea deal. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

A sentencing date has not been set.