Fort Worth Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison on Bank Robbery Convictions

FORT WORTH, TX—Montray Lorenzo Cato, 29, of Fort Worth, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 120 months in federal prison, following his conviction at trial, in November 2012, on two counts of bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. Judge McBryde also ordered that Cato pay $7,747 in restitution.

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 Gulde and Megan Fahey prosecuted.