TACOMA, Wash. -- An alleged bank robber who had been known only as John Doe made his first appearance in a federal courtroom Friday with his true identity exposed.

With his true identity no longer a secret, Michael Fenter appeared in a federal court in Tacoma on charges of bank robbery.

WATCH IT: 'John Doe' Bank Robber Makes First Court Appearance

Fenter's wife, Kateen, huddled with friends outside, and in the courthouse she broke down and wept after watching her husband appear on bank robbery charges.

The Fenters are well known as owners of Compass Rose Farm in Port Townsend, and in court the suspect was described as a man with a sizeable income.

The farm and the Fenter family were featured in an article in the Port Townsend Leader two years ago as "a place to raise the next generation of family farmers."

Police and prosecutors said earlier this year, 40-year-old Fenter started robbing banks.

The first known holdup was in Seattle on Feb. 4 at a Washington Mutual Branch, followed by robberies in San Francisco and Sacramento, police said.

In each case Fenter allegedly escaped with tens of thousands in cash, always leaving behind a fake bomb.

Fenter allegedly tried the same thing at a Bank of America in Tacoma on Oct. 8, but was caught.

The FBI said Fenter entered the bank and approached the assistant manager saying he represented a group of people who are angry with the government. He said he had a bomb and ordered an employee to fill a bag with money.

Another employee noticed what was happening and called 911, alerting the Tacoma Police Department of a robbery in progress. Officers surrounded the bank and arrested Fenter when he got outside.

Police said he had a loaded handgun in a holster on his right hip, and the Tacoma bomb squad determined that the purported bomb was, in fact, an explosive device.

According to federal charging documents, Fenter was found with approximately $73,000 in cash.

Fenter was booked into Pierce County Jail as John Doe when he refused to identify himself following his arrest. Police said he claimed his name was Patrick Henry as he has done in previous robberies.

Police said Fenter had covered his fingertips in glue to prevent leaving behind evidence during the robbery.

Information on Fenter's alleged motive for stealing money has not yet been released. Sources tell KIRO 7 that he didn’t need the cash and there are there are questions about what he was doing with it.

Federal prosecutors said that is expected to be made public at a probable cause hearing scheduled for later this month.