DALLAS — A Florida duo traveled to North Texas with the intention of robbing multiple banks across Dallas-Fort Worth, officials say. Now, one has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison, and the other is awaiting their fate.
Thomas Joseph Banno, 54, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to bank robbery, according to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. He was sentenced Wednesday to 140 months by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr.
Plea papers said Banno admitted to robbing at least five banks across DFW between June and August 2021, while he was on probation for a bank robbery in Florida.
Banno would don a mask, enter the bank and demand “all the $50s and $100s” from the teller in each robbery, according to court documents. In one crime, Banno reportedly gestured as if he had a gun under his shirt; in another, he told the teller he had a gun; and in two others, he showed what appeared to be a silver pistol.
After each robbery, Banno fled the scene in a Dodge Caravan driven by his codefendant, 36-year-old Sade Miranda Salters, who too pleaded guilty to bank robbery, in addition to aiding and abetting, officials say.
Shortly after two of the robberies, Salters was seen on Facebook Live flashing a stack of banded cash. The video also pans to Banno, who was asleep in the backset of the van, officials say.
Salters is currently awaiting sentencing for her role in the crimes.
The FBI's Dallas office, along with the help of the Dallas Police Department, investigated the crimes.
