Plea Deal Expected for "Blonde Bandit"

Stephanie Lynn Schwab--dubbed the "blonde bandit" during a two-week crime spree in which she was charged in assaults, attempted kidnapping, carjacking and bank robbery--is reportedly expected to make a plea deal with federal prosecutors in Virginia.

The Washington Post reported that Schwab is scheduled for a change of plea hearing on April 5, which often indicates that a plea agreement has been reached.

On Feb. 24, to six charges that incuded two counts of bank robbery, attempted bank robbery and three counts of transporting stolen vehicles across state lines.

A native of Manassas, VA, the 26-year-old Schwab is a young mother who was reportedly once a member of the gang, MS-13.

Schwab is charged in a string of crimes throughout Maryland and Northern Virginia during 13 days in November.

On Nov. 18, Schwab reportedly stole a car and robbed Virginia Commerce Bank branch on Balls Ford Road in Manassas before going Nov. 19 to Tysons Corner, where who offered to give her a ride.

Police suspect Schwab was responsible for the Nov. 22 robbery of a BB&T Bank in West Springfield, VA.

On Nov. 24--Thanksgiving Day--Schwab in the parking lot of the Safeway on the 5400-block of Baltimore National Pike in Catonsville.

According to police, Schwab pulled a knife on the driver and demanded that she keep driving. After the victim tried to call for help to a bystander, police said that Schwab grabbed the steering wheel and pushed the accelerator, but the car was in park.

The victim grabbed the knife, injuring her left arm before Schwab ran away, heading east on Baltimore National Pike towards Baltimore City, according to police.

On Nov. 30, police said Schwab carjacked a blue 2010 Ford Escape from a Pennsylvanian woman in the parking lot of Walmart on the 3600-block of Washington Boulevard in Lansdowne.

Later that day, according to police, Schwab tried to rob a BB&T Bank in Arlington, VA. She then tried to flee in the Escape and was captured and arrested on Old Georgetown Road and the Capital Beltway after crashing into two cars, police said.