Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 11 ½ Years in Federal Prison

A Florida man tied to at least five bank robberies in North Texas was sentenced today to more than 11 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Thomas Joseph Banno, 54, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to bank robbery. He was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr to 140 months’ imprisonment.

According to plea papers, Mr. Banno admitted he was involved in at least five bank robberies and attempted bank robberies in the DFW metroplex between June and August 2021 – while he was on probation for a bank robbery in Florida.

Each time, Mr. Banno donned a mask, entered the bank, and demanded “all the $50s and $100s” from the teller. On at least one occasion, he gestured as if he had a gun concealed under his shirt; on another, he told the teller he had a gun; and on two others, he brandished what appeared to be a silver pistol.

After each robbery, Mr. Banno fled the scene in a Dodge Caravan driven by his codefendant, Sade Miranda Salters, 36, who later pleaded guilty to bank robbery; aiding and abetting.

Both Mr. Banno and Ms. Salters admitted in plea papers that they knowingly traveled from Florida to Texas with the intent to commit the robberies.

Shortly after two of the robberies, Ms. Salters posted a Facebook Live video of herself flashing a stack of banded cash. The video later pans to Mr. Banno asleep in the backseat of the van.

Ms. Salters is currently awaiting sentencing.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Briggs is prosecuting the case.