Further to yesterday’s post of a bank robber, I am inviting you today to meet another Canadian bank robber: Kevin John Pinto.
A former financier, as vice-president at an investment firm, he was also known as the Exchange Bandit because of his habit of engaging bank tellers in conversation about U.S. exchange rate before giving them a holdup note.
Beginning in 2002, Pinto robbed 10 banks throughout Ontario; in October 2008, he surrendered to police. He then pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Pinto would commit his robberies during his lunch hour. He was a compulsive gambler who turned to crime in trying to pay his accumulated gambling debts, which far outweighed the total amount he stole.
Pinto is out now, and he says the corrections system doesn’t know how to properly handle gambling addiction. In 2012, he shared his experiences at the Ontario Problem Gambling Provincial Forum, along with health experts such as researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He wants to help gamblers, and get the word out there that gambling should be better recognized as an addiction. He suffered withdrawal, like nightmares and major anxiety, just like other addiction. He says the corrections system just don’t know how to handle gambling addicts.
Bite Size Canada 
Poor Dude. I hope he’ll be able to overcome his addiction and help someone else before its too late! *(purrs)*
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Last I heard, that was exactly what he was doing! Thank god for people like him, eh? … er, you are not addicted to Nip, are you? I could send him your way if you needed the help …. 🙂
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Well yeah, … I’m hooked on nip…. But why get help? He can find his own!
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Yeah, Rufus was on my case about. Apparently, as a human, I have no real idea and can’t understand the power of Nip.I stand corrected!! 🙂
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Let’s just say Catnip cures all! *(purrs)*♥
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Just make sure it’s Gold, not the cheap nip. Make sure they don’t have Iris in ‘m! Just take the one your owner offers. 🙂 LOL
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Dude. Thanks fur the tip! *(nip hunting….)♥
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Gambling is a serious addiction as I have seen people lose their cars, homes and life savings. I hope he continues to fight for help for those in need.
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Yes, it is indeed a big problem. I don’t know how much people know that it can ruin lives as much as other (more known) addiction. We need more people like this to keep up the fight!
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I hope he will get the help he needs. Government is the #1 supplier of addiction like a pimp for alcohol, lottery and casino. Government are just addicted to gambling! Good read, TK.
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From what I’ve read, he seems very determined to stay clean as much as he is fighting for more treatments for gambling addiction. In my opinion, a hero.
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