San Antonio Man Admits to Stealing Approximately $479K from Multiple Banks

In San Antonio today, 42-year-old Dennis Edward Stephen, pleaded guilty in federal court to 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. 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad, 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 November 14, 2013, and July 23, 2018.   The robberies include:

• November 14, 2013; April 17, 2014; and September 19, 2014 – Frost Bank on Vance Jackson Rd. – approximately $37,604; $36,280; and $133,000 stolen, respectively;
• November 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.  He has since remained in federal custody.  Stephen faces up to 20 years in federal prison and restitution to the financial institutions.  Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30pm on March 6, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio. 

The F.B.I. together with the San Antonio Police Department investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wannarka is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.