LUBBOCK COUNTY, Texas — A Texas man was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday after he robbed a bank in a car loaned to him from a dealership then tried to use the money as a down payment on a BMW, prosecutors said.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas said Eric Dion Warren, 50, went into an AIM Bank in Wolfforth, Texas, around 12:45 p.m. on June 7, 2019 and handed a note to a teller demanding money, KTVT reported.
“This is a (expletive) robbery. Play with me and die,” the note read. “I want $10,000 in 50 and 100 dollar bills now you got 1 minute or I will kill you.”
Warren also pulled out what appeared to be a handgun, prosecutors said.
“I ain’t playing around,” he said. “I only want 100s and 50s.”
The teller complied, giving Warren money from the drawer as well as stacks of $20 bills with recorded serial numbers. The teller put the money in the bag. Warren said, “Don’t push any buttons,” and fled. Warren then left the bank in a vehicle a car dealership loaned him while they finalized the sale of a BMW to him. About 15 minutes after the robbery, Warren returned to the dealership in the loaned vehicle. He went into the dealership finance office and gave them $3,000 cash as a down payment for the BMW.
While Warren was in the finance office, the police called the dealership. An employee realized the vehicle that was described in the robbery was the same one loaned to Warren. Police arrived and Warren was arrested with $5,086 cash on him. Serial numbers matched the money missing from the bank. A painted pellet gun was found about 10 feet away from him. His fingerprints and other DNA were also found on the note.
Warren pleaded guilt to bank robbery in August 2020 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday.
A Lubbock area bank robber was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum.https://t.co/hrfTHlkGkz
— US Attorney N. Texas (@NDTXnews) March 10, 2021
Cox Media Group
