Federal Jury Finds Man Guilty of Robbing Two Banks in Fort Worth This Summer

FORT WORTH, TX—Following a one-day trial before U.S. District Judge John McBryde, a federal jury has found Montray Lorenzo Cato, 29, of Fort Worth, Texas, guilty on two counts of bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. Cato faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count; sentencing is set for March 8, 2013, before Judge McBryde.

The government presented evidence that during summer 2012, Cato robbed two branches of the First Convenience Bank in Fort Worth. Cato committed the June 13, 2012 robbery of the First Convenience Bank located inside of a Kroger Store at 6650 North Beach Street; and the July 28, 2012 robbery of the First Convenience Bank located inside of a Walmart at 6756 West Vickery. On both occasions, the bank robber wore similar clothing and held a cell phone to his ear during the robbery.

Cato was arrested on August 29, 2012, after employees at a First Convenience Bank located inside of a Kroger Store at 9114 Camp Bowie Boulevard West recognized Cato loitering in the store and notified the Fort Worth Police Department. After officers located Cato in the store, they escorted him outside and discovered that he had a realistic plastic replica of a firearm in his waistband. In addition, he had no money, credit cards or debit cards on his person that seemed to belie his claim that he was shopping at the Kroger.

The case was investigated by the Fort Worth Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Gulde and Megan Fahey are in charge of the prosecution.