Bank Robberies in Rockville, Silver Spring Bring 7 Years

SILVER SPRING, MD — Three bank robberies -- including holdups in Rockville and Silver Spring -- nabbed only $5,100 for the Silver Spring man who must now spend seven years in prison.

A federal judge on Friday sentenced Tony Linn Smith, 56, of Silver Spring, to seven years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to bank robbery. A federal judge also ordered Smith to pay $4,775; he was called a repeat bank robber by prosecutors.

According to his plea agreement, Smith committed three bank robberies between July 17 and July 25, 2015. In each robbery Smith entered the bank, gave the teller a note demanding money and said that he had a gun.

Prosecutors say Smith robbed the M&T Bank on North Potomac Street in Hagerstown on July 17; the Sun Trust Bank located at 8700 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring on July 23; and the M&T Bank at 51 W. Edmonston Drive in Rockville on July 25. Smith stole a total of $5,100 from the three robberies.

In December 2001, Smith pleaded guilty to bank robbery and was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. After serving his prison term in federal custody, Smith served about eight years in prison in connection with a Virginia bank robbery.

Smith was released from state custody on June 30, 2014 and was required to be on federal supervised release until June 29, 2017. As a result, Smith was on supervised release at the time of the bank robberies described above.