K’land bank robbery suspect linked with 3 more

February 07, 2013, 9:00 pm by Adam Troxtell

The man arrested and charged in connection with a Kingsland bank robbery last month has also been linked to three other bank robberies in Austin.

Benton Paul Buratti, 29, was arrested Jan. 18 in Arlington, Texas, accused of robbing the American Bank of Texas in Kingsland on Jan. 4. He is being held in Llano County Jail without bail and is facing at least one robbery charge. But, a warrant affidavit from Travis County has linked Buratti with three other bank robberies in Austin.

"He’ll most likely face some charges out of Travis County in the next few days,” Llano County Sheriff Bill Blackburn said. "He could be tried in a state court.” Buratti has not yet been charged with robberies at any of the Austin banks.

The warrant states video surveillance has led police to suspect Buratti was involved in a Dec. 6 robbery at Frost Bank at 100 E. Anderson Lane, another one on Dec. 22 at the Compass Bank at 2514 W. Parmer Lane, and a third at Woodforest National Bank at 9300 N I-35 Frontage Road.

For more of this story, see Friday's Highlander