“Handsome Guy Bandit” Charged in Federal Complaint with Armed Robbery of Compass Bank in Richardson, Texas

DALLAS, TX—A federal criminal complaint was filed this afternoon charging Richardson, Texas resident Steven Ray Milam with robbing the BBVA Compass Bank in Richardson, Texas, on New Year’s Eve 2011. Milam, 44, was discovered yesterday in Jackson County, Mississippi, where, after a high-speed car chase, law enforcement apprehended and arrested him. He remains in custody and will make his initial appearance in federal court in Dallas on a date to be determined by the Court. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Casey, Jr. of Dallas FBI.

Milam was given the moniker “Handsome Guy Bandit” by the FBI because of the mask he allegedly wore in this bank robbery, as well as in other bank robberies he is believed to have committed throughout North Texas.

According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, at approximately 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, December 31, 2011, Milam, wearing a latex-type mask and a blue warm-up suit, robbed the BBVA Compass Bank, located at 1401 East Campbell Road, in Richardson. During the robbery, Milam pointed a handgun at the bank manager and demanded money from the vault. While wielding the handgun, he then ordered the bank manager and several employees into the vault; one of the employees pressed the panic alarm before entering the vault. Milam ordered the bank manager to put $100s, $50s, and $20s into a clear plastic bag that he had brought with him. He also ordered two tellers from the vault to their teller windows and also ordered them to put large bills in the bag. He instructed both tellers not to place any trackers or dye packs in the bag or he would kill them. He escorted all witnesses to the bathroom and told them to count to 500 and not to contact the police because he would be listening to a police scanner.

Shortly after Milam left the bank, officers with the Richardson Police Department responded to the location and saw him walking eastward in the parking lot from the bank location. Milam, fleeing on foot, opened fire on the officers and several rounds penetrated a squad car. While searching the surrounding area, officers located a mask, blue warm-up suit, handgun and plastic bags containing cash. Inside a pocket of the warm-up suit, officers found a key fob and matched it to a vehicle, registered to Milam, that was parked at the bank.

A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The government has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment. The maximum statutory sentence for one count of bank robbery with the use of a dangerous weapon, as presently charged, is 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation, which continues, is being conducted by the FBI in conjunction with the Richardson Police Department. U.S. Attorney Saldaña and Special Agent in Charge Casey praised the work of the Jackson County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department in apprehending the defendant.