A serial bank robbery suspect accused of using fake bombs and a handgun to terrorize victims during eight bank robberies and attempted robberies throughout Los Angeles County, including one in West Covina, is awaiting trial, the FBI announced Saturday.

William Joseph Allen, 32, of Los Angeles was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury, FBI officials said in a written statement.

Dubbed the “Explosives Threat Bandit” by law enforcement, Allen is accused of starting his spree of bank robberies at a West Covina Bank of America Branch in the Eastland Shopping Center, 2901 Eastland Center Drive, on Nov. 15, according to the indictment. The bandit then hit banks in Los Angeles, Venice, Maria Del Rey and Santa Monica before being identified and arrested.

In the West Covina heist, as well as several others, “The suspect left behind a device made up of electronic components and various wiring,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. “The suspect advised the victim teller that someone outside the bank would detonate the device, indicating explosives were contained within.”

The device left behind in West Covina was a large manila envelope with wires protruding from it, West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez said.

In the robberies in which devices were left behind by the robber, Los Angeles County sheriff’s bomb squad officials had to respond and inspect them, according to the FBI. All were determined to be inert.

In the later robberies, the robber made similar threats but left no device behind, officials said.

The final crime in the alleged spree occurred March 29 at a Santa Monica Wells Fargo bank, according to the indictment.

Santa Monica detectives recovered forensic evidence from the scene of the failed robbery and were able to use it to identify Allen as a suspect, Eimiller said.

He was arrested by Los Angeles police April 17th, she added.

Allen is being held in federal custody as he awaits trial.

SURVEILLANCE photo from bank robbery in West Covina on Nov. 15, 2011, courtesy of the FBI.