A man accused of using a bomb threat to distract police from a bank robbery is arrested
Dijon Hudson, who investigators say called 911 to report a bomb threat at Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale on July 25 in order to rob a bank, turned himself into authorities Friday.
On Thursday, the FBI released information about Hudson and announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
The FBI said Hudson showed up at the Fort Lauderdale federal courthouse Friday morning and was taken into federal custody. A bond hearing is scheduled Aug. 7.
The FBI said Hudson used a bomb threat as a distraction tactic so he could rob a nearby bank while law enforcement officers responded to the mall. Hudson, 21, left the Synovus Bank, 632 S. Federal Hwy., that day with $7,552 in cash, according to a criminal complaint.
And that wasn’t the first time he used the tactic to try to rob a bank, the FBI said.
“We need to stop him before he robs another one,” Michael Leverock, a spokesman for the FBI, said Thursday.
Agents say on July 23, Hudson called 911 to say two bombs were left at Anytime Fitness, 10144 W. Oakland Park Blvd. He said the bombs would detonate in 15 minutes.
In that case, records show he tried to enter Popular Bank, 8401 W. Oakland Park Blvd., but couldn’t get in because anyone trying to gain entry to the bank must be buzzed in by a bank employee.
He showed up wearing dark pants, dark shoes, a hooded sweatshirt zipped up and a mask over his face, the FBI complaint said. He was carrying a black bag in his hand.
He was not buzzed in, so he left.
The criminal complaint said he went to Popular Bank the day before to look around and said he wanted to open a checking account. He also called a number on his cellphone of a person identified in the documents only as K.D.G. According to the complaint, K.D.G. had been convicted of bank robbery in the past and was living in a halfway house.
Then on July 24, investigators say Hudson went to Synovus Bank and told an employee he wanted to open a checking account. Again, he called K.D.G., the complaint says.
The next day, just after 9 a.m., a bomb threat for the Galleria, 2414 E Sunrise Blvd., came in.
Agents say Hudson used the opportunity to go to Synovus and demand cash.
“The male jumped the teller counter and brandished a handgun with his left hand,” an investigator wrote in the complaint. He then left the bank and drove away in a Ford Fusion.
The car led agents to a woman. While detectives were interviewing her, her phone kept ringing, agents said. In one case, the caller, later identified as Hudson, called on FaceTime and his picture popped up, agents said.
This story has been updated to reflect that Dijon Hudson surrendered to authorities.
This story was originally published August 1, 2019 at 7:05 PM.
