Dominyk Antonio Alfonseca, 23, was arrested on Monday in Virginia Beach about 20 minutes after a TowneBank branch was robbed.
Alfonseca told media outlets in interviews from jail Wednesday that he posted a photo of the note he handed to a bank teller, along with two videos of her reading it and handing over the money, to Instagram.
"For real, I didn't even do it for money, you understand? I didn't do that for money. I knew my page would get exposure," Alfonseca told ABC affiliate WVEC-TV.
He says he simply and politely made a request for money, and the teller gave it to him.
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"No threats in it. If you see me in the video or whatever like that, I have a shirt on, no weapon, no mask, and she passes me the money," said Alfonseca. "I don't want to get her in trouble. Maybe she made a mistake. Maybe she made a mistake, and I didn't make a mistake."
The videos of the incident remain on Alfonseca's Instagram acccount. He didn't say why he posted them, but said if it had been a "real" robbery, he never would have done so.
"I videotaped it. If it was a robbery, I don't think I would videotape it, post the picture of the letter and do that all to come to jail," he told WAVY-TV. "I'm basically asking permission for money. In my eyes I did not commit a robbery, and I feel I'm being charged without reason."
A photo posted to Alfonseca's Instagram account shows a handwritten note in which the writer remarks that it would probably take three or four minutes for police to arrive, so "I would appreciate it if you ring the alarm a minute after I'm gone." It also says to "make sure the money doesn't blow up" on his way out. The videos show a bank teller reading the note and putting money into a bag.
Alfonseca now claims he is the one who is the victim of theft.
Alfonseca was quoted by the Virginian-Pilot as saying that he has been the victim of theft, with businesses and artists stealing ideas from his Instagram account.
He told the newspaper it's as if there's a chip in his brain that tells people what he thinks before he says it.
"For real, I felt like I got robbed, 'cause they gave me the money. Then, the police robbed my brain," Alfonseca told WVEC-TV.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.