In San Antonio today, a federal judge sentenced 42-year-old Dennis Edward Stephen of San Antonio, to 15 years in federal prison for robbing multiple San Antonio banks and stealing approximately $479,000, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, F.B.I. Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ordered that Stephen pay $442,284 restitution and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.
“The financial industry is critical to American capitalism. Today’s 15-year sentence makes clear that it ultimately doesn’t pay to target banks," stated U.S. Attorney Bash.
On November 8, 2018, Stephen pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. By pleading guilty, Stephen admitted responsibility for eight different bank robberies in San Antonio and the surrounding area between Nov. 14, 2013, and July 23, 2018. The robberies include:
* Nov. 14, 2013; April 17, 2014; and Sept. 19, 2014 - Frost Bank on Vance Jackson Rd. - approximately $37,604; $36,280; and $133,000 stolen, respectively;
* Nov. 24, 2015 - Broadway Bank in Helotes, TX - approximately $11,323 stolen;
* June 16, 2016 - Frost Bank on Wurzbach Rd. - approximately $56,077 stolen;
* November 4, 2016; July 5, 2017; and July 23, 2018 - Frost Bank on N. Loop 1604 - approximately $67,000; $101,000; and $36,561 stolen, respectively.
According to court records, authorities dubbed Stephen the “Camry Cruzin’ Bandit" because he drove a Toyota Camry during his scheme and often wore the same attire while committing the robberies: blue jeans, a denim long sleeve button down shirt, a white t-shirt and a UTSA Roadrunners baseball cap covering his head, sunglasses and a surgical mask covering his face, and rubber surgical gloves covering his hands.
Authorities arrested Stephen on July 23, 2018, following the Frost Bank robbery. They were also able to recover the $36,561 he stole during that robbery. He has since remained in federal custody.
The F.B.I. together with the San Antonio Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wannarka prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
