Associated Press - November 4, 2009 8:04 PM ET

PHOENIX (AP) - The FBI says a suspect has been arrested in connection with the armed robberies of a bank and a credit union in Gilbert last month.

Authorities say 48-year-old Donald Ray Ludington, of Gilbert, was taken into custody without incident Wednesday.

Ludington made his initial appearance in federal court and is being detained pending a Nov. 10 detention hearing.

Authorities say Ludington is suspected of robbing the Tempe Schools Credit Union on Oct. 7 and a Bank of America branch on Oct. 22.

In both cases, tellers say Ludington gave them a note and threatened them with what appeared to be a bomb. In the first robbery, Ludington allegedly was in possession of a gun.

Federal prosecutors say a conviction for armed bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine. However, they say a judge is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

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