Described by federal authorities as a “mastermind” who used disguises, rented cars and police radios, a former software wiz from Anderson Township faces trial in a string of Greater Cincinnati bank robberies.

        The bank jobs were carried out by the robber who came to be known as the “Black Wig Bandit” because of the distinctive black wig he would wear.

The “Black Wig Bandit” in a Feb. 6 bank robbery in West Chester Township. | ZOOM |

        William M. “Bill” Gregory, 56, of Bishopsbridge Drive, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court Thursday to a 19-count indictment charging him with stealing nearly $100,000 from eight suburban banks from Sept. 28 of last year to Feb. 20.

        Mr. Gregory, a 19-year IBM veteran and former president of Mentap Systems Inc., remained free Thursday on $200,000 bond. The case is expected to go to trial in May.

        His younger brother, Michael R. Gregory, 47, of Ramey Lane in Fairfield, pleaded guilty Thursday to lesser charges for his part in the string of robberies. They include one count of armed robbery and other charges stemming from a 10-hour standoff during which he fired at federal agents serving a search warrant at his apartment.

        The younger Mr. Gregory, an ex-convict, will be sentenced by July. He faces up to 25 years in prison.

        Bill Gregory, who has no prior criminal record, faces up to 147 years in prison.

        Michael Gregory's plea agreement states that for his cooperation he will not be charged with any offenses committed as part of the “same scheme.”

        “In the past, judges have given consideration to defendants who have pleaded guilty,” said Fred Alverson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Accused bank robber William M. Gregory's house in Anderson Township is valued at more than $400,000. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        Investigation continues into the string of robberies the two allegedly committed. A black wig and handgun were also used in an unsolved Edgewood, Ky., bank robbery.

        The 21-page federal indictment portrays Bill Gregory as the mastermind and describes the brothers' meticulous planning: casing banks, stealing license plates, renting cars to be used as get-away vehicles and buying two-way radios and police scanners.

        The two allegedly bought junker cars in cash and stole license plates to create harder-to-trace getaway cars. In one robbery, the indictment says, William Gregory entered the bank “wearing a baseball cap, a shoulder-length black wig, a fake mustache, sunglasses, a waist-length parka, latex gloves, and carrying a black handgun and bag.”

        “I have no comment,” said Bill Gregory, who appeared in court alongside his wife Sherry. His attorney, Patrick Trainor, refused comment at the courthouse.

        Federal officials wouldn't comment on what might have led a successful entrepreneur to allegedly rob banks.

Charmed life

        Bill Gregory lives with his wife in a two-story brick colonial with a three-car garage valued by the Hamilton County auditor's office at $421,500.

        Residents in the upscale Regents Park development in southeast Anderson Township, went about their business Thursday, digging flower beds and walking dogs. They were tight-lipped about an alleged bank robber in their midst.

        Neighbors would glance at Bill Gregory's house at the southeast corner of Ayers Road and Bishopsbridge Drive and say: “Shocked.”

        Tucked on a hillside with streets winding to an arbor, part of Regents Park overlooks the Ohio River across U.S. 52. Neighbors include doctors, lawyers, business leaders and former Cincinnati Reds great Johnny Bench.

        No one would permit his or her name to be used Thursday.
       

Business successes

        After 19 years at IBM in software development and management, Bill Gregory formed Mentap Systems Inc. with Jim Wycoff of Cincinnati. Mentap produced software that tracked mutual fund and insurance sales contacts.

        Mr. Wycoff, host of the Jim Wycoff Money Hour radio show, did not return a phone message left Thursday with his assistant at Raymond James Financial Services in West Chester Township.

        The Nimitz Drive company had 19 employees when it sold in late 1994 for between $7 million and $15 million, according to business press reports at the time.

        Output Technologies of Illinois, a now-defunct subsidiary of DST Systems of Kansas City, Mo., was the buyer, agreeing to terms employing Bill and Sherry Gregory in Cincinnati through 1999.

        The Gregorys' relationship with Output went sour in August, 1997. They sued, with Bill Gregory alleging he was fired from his $144,000-per-year job because of his age. His wife was also let go from a $35,000-a-year job.

        The suit was dismissed in March 1998. The law firm representing Mr. Gregory at the time, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, said Thursday that a confidentiality agreement prevented them from commenting.

        Bill Gregory left his last employer, SalesPage Technologies of Kalamazoo, Mich., on Sept. 11, 2001, just 17 days before police say he robbed his first bank.

        The company announced his March 2001 hiring as executive vice president for financial services with a news release highlighting his “extensive experience in technology for the mutual fund, banking and insurance industries, in both startup and corporate environments.”

        Melissa Jobe, SalesPage vice president and general counsel said William Gregory commuted from his home in Anderson Township to SalesPage headquarters in Kalamazoo. She would not comment on why Mr. Gregory left the company.

       
       Allen Howard contributed to this report.
       

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