GPS tracker in stack of money leads to arrest, guilty plea of Dublin bank robber

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Dublin man accused in three bank robberies within a five-day period in Columbus has admitted to the crimes.

According to the United States Attorneys Office, Southern District of Ohio, 27-year-old Hussein Mohamed pleaded guilty to federal crimes related to three armed robberies in April 2024.

Court documents state that on April 11, Mohamed, who lives in Dublin, robbed the Telhio Credit Union on North Hamilton Road in northeast Columbus while wearing a white face mask. He reportedly showed a bank teller a note from his cell phone, indicating that he had a gun, and left with approximately $2,000.

Five days later, Mohamed committed two separate robberies. At about 4 p.m., he entered a Fifth Third Bank on Bethel Road in northwest Columbus -- this time with a blue face mask -- approached a bank manager and demanded money using the note from his phone. After indicating he had a gun, the bank manager forfeited $1,073 over to Mohamed.

Approximately 45 minutes later, he entered a Huntington Bank on North High Street in the University District, wearing different clothing, and again showed the teller a note from his phone. After a teller emptied the drawer for Mohamed, approximately $2,000, he told another teller to empty her drawer.

The second teller said there was no cash in her drawer, and Mohamed pulled out a gun and forced the tellers to the vault room while making threats. Mohamed took about $20,000 from the vault.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said a second individual conspired with Mohamed as the driver of a vehicle used to travel to and from the robberies.

Evidence collected by police included Mohamed’s location, temporarily, due to a GPS device placed into the stack of money by the bank tellers. Police were able to track Mohamed to the area of Lane Avenue and Indianola Avenue, where the device was found on the ground.

Police were also able to track cell phone number locations of Mohamed to all three bank locations at the time of the robberies, as well as to an apartment on Merrick Crossing Drive in east Columbus after each robbery. Police then tracked the owner of the Honda to the same Dublin address where Mohamed lives.

Area security footage shows two individuals in a silver Honda Accord driving away from the Huntington Bank and later one of the persons in the car throwing a GPS device out the window.

Authorities obtained a search warrant of the east Columbus apartment and recovered clothing worn at the robberies, a loaded handgun, Mohamed’s wallet and his identification.

Arrested in May 2024, Mohamed pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery, three counts of conspiring to commit bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Federal sentencing could include up to 20 years in prison for the robberies, five years in prison for conspiring to commit the robberies and a mandatory seven years and up to life in prison for the firearm charge. The firearm charge would run consecutively to any sentence imposed.