'Handsome Guy Bandit' Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing 11 Banks in Texas
Defendant was Arrested in Mississippi Following a High-Speed Chase
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 29, 2012 |
DALLAS—Steven Ray Milam, 45, of Richardson, Texas, was sentenced this afternoon by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 35 years in federal prison for committing 11 bank robberies, including six armed bank robberies, in Texas during 2011, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
Milam was given the moniker “Handsome Guy Bandit” by the FBI because of the latex mask he wore when committing the robberies. Specifically, Milam pleaded guilty to one count of brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence in connection the string of bank robberies he committed from April 2011 through December 2011.
According to plea documents filed in the case, Milam admitted robbing the following banks:
- April 19, 2011: BBVA Compass Bank, 14852 Preston Road, Dallas
- May 2, 2011: Bank of America, 7300 North MacArthur Blvd., Irving, Texas
- May 13, 2011: Wells Fargo Bank, 17088 Preston Road, Dallas
- May 17, 2011: First National Bank, 1300 Preston Road, Plano, Texas
- June 11, 2011: American National Bank, 1101 E. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas
- July 14, 2011: First Community Bank, 1755 North Collins Road, Richardson, Texas
- August 30, 2011: Patriot Bank, 9545 Katy Freeway, Hedwig Village, Texas
- September 12, 2011: Wells Fargo Bank, 5219 Richman Avenue, Houston, Texas
- September 29, 2011: Prosperity Bank, 5919 Forrest Lane, Dallas
- November 22, 2011: BB&T Bank, 11800 Preston Road, Dallas
- December 31, 2011: BBVA Compass Bank, 1401 Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas
During the last bank robbery, on December 31, 2011, Milam entered the bank wearing a mask, black-framed glasses, a blue warm-up suit, a white ball cap, and latex gloves and was and holding a clear bag and carrying a black semi-automatic handgun. He approached the teller, displayed the gun, and demanded money. He then forced the employees and customers into the vault at gunpoint and told the bank manager to empty the teller drawers, stating, “No dye packs or trackers. I’ll kill you if you put them in the bag.” Milam then forced the employees and customers into the bathroom and told them to count to 500 and not contact the police.
Police officers intercepted Milam walking away from the bank after the robbery and when they approached him in their vehicles, he pointed the gun at them. He fired one round at the officer’s squad car, hitting the driver’s side front windshield just above the inspection sticker, causing the glass to shatter over the officer’s head and shoulders. The officers retreated and Milam shot two more times, striking the driver’s door and the back left passenger door of the squad car. He fled on foot, discarding his gun, mask, keys, clothes, and money. He ran to his home in Richardson, packed clothes, and drove to Austin, spending that night in Austin.
The following day, while en route to Florida, he was spotted in Mississippi. Officers attempted to apprehend him, but Milam refused to pull over and a high-speed chase ensued. Milam almost struck several vehicles in the process of escaping and officers shut down portions of the highway in order to deploy road spikes. Milam took evasive maneuvers to avoid the spikes. As a last resort, the local Mississippi sheriff pulled up beside Milam and shot out his back tire, disabling his car and allowing law enforcement to take him into custody.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI in conjunction with the Richardson Police Department and the Dallas Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy and Keith Robinson.