‘Halo Bandit’ Bank Robbers Sentenced to Combined 35 Years in Federal Prison

Two bank robbers who led police on a wild chase across the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex earlier this year have been sentenced to a combined 35 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.

Dubbed the “Halo Bandits” by the FBI, Marcello Shofner, 37, and Cedric Burns, 41, both pleaded guilty to bank robbery in April.

In plea papers, the pair admitted they entered a Texas Trust Credit Union in Hurst, Texas, pointed replica weapons at three employees, and demanded more than $100,000 in U.S. currency from the vault. Money in hand, they fled the scene in a grey Ford Focus.

Their getaway driver, Antranette Canady, 46, lead authorities on a high-speed pursuit down Interstate 30 and onto a dead end street in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood, where all three were apprehended by law enforcement.

Mr. Shofner was sentenced Monday morning by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 15 years in federal prison. Mr. Burns was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison late last month. Ms. Canady, who also pleaded guilty to bank robbery in April, is slated to be sentenced next month.

Co-conspirator Precious Alexander – who’d planned to be the “switch” driver but was detained by law enforcement before she could meet up with Mr. Shofner and Mr. Burns – also pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to 9 years in federal prison.

The FBI Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation; the Dallas Police Department assisted in the defendants’ apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Fahey is prosecuting the case.