Joseph Franklin Bent

Joseph Franklin Bent Jr. (November 30, 1927 – May 7, 2004) was a robber who was on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 1951. He had robbed a grocery store in San Diego, California and while an accomplice drive a getaway car, shot at pursuing police with a shotgun.

Background He was also known by the aliases Charles "Hap" Rayborn and Coal Frederick Raymond (among others); the FBI had not tied these names to Bent, a veteran robber, until 16 months after his addition to the Ten Most Wanted list on January 9, 1951. He was added under the charges of robbery, attempted murder, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution after escaping jail in Gretna, Louisiana.

On March 6, 1946, he enlisted in the United States Army at San Antonio, Texas, but was discharged after less than one month service when he was arrested for robbing a post office sub-station in Grand Junction, Colorado. Bent previously served time at United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth and Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary for his heists. His previous occupations included a fireman, fisherman, railway switch man, and truck driver. He died in 2004 in California.