'Black Hat Bandit' Bank Robber Sentenced to 32 Years

PHOTO from surveillance camera Jan. 2 of Thomas Anthony George courtesy of FBI

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Thomas Anthony George, 65, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced Thursday to 384 months (32 years) in prison for two counts of using a firearm during the commission of armed bank robberies, federal prosecutors announced in a news release. George was also ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $182,104.48.

“Thomas George has been robbing banks for most of his adult life,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “I want to thank our prosecutors and investigative partners for their efforts on this case and for bringing this violent serial bank robber to justice.”

No word on the fate of Dawitt Ralph Hall, 37, who was also arrested or any other suspects.

George pleaded guilty on Sept. 24. George and his co-conspirators, who were known as the Black Hat Bandits, robbed nine banks, including six banks in the Eastern District of Virginia, two banks in the District of Maryland, and one bank in the District of Columbia. In each of these robberies, George brandished a firearm at bank customers or employees of the bank. In total, George and his co-conspirators stole approximately $182,104 during the nine bank robberies, federal prosecutors said.

The robberies were:

• Jan. 2, 2015: Bank of America in McLean
• Jan. 16, 2015: BB&T in Fairfax
• Jan. 20, 2015: Bank of America in Vienna
• Jan. 30, 2015: Essex Bank in Arnold, Md.
• Feb. 5, 2015: SunTrust Bank in Waldorf, Md.
• Feb. 18, 2015: BB&T in Vienna
• Feb. 18, 2015: Wells Fargo in Sterling
• March 2, 2015: Wells Fargo, Falls Church
• March 13, 2015: Wells Fargo in DC

Here are descriptions from the FBI of some of the robberies in Northern Virginia:

McLean

• Jan. 2, at approximately 10:50 a.m., a suspect entered the Bank of America, 1369 Chain Bridge Road in McLean, brandished a weapon and robbed the bank. The suspect was wearing a fake beard/mustache facial disguise. He was described as a white male, approximately 50 years old, approximately 5’ 10”, approximately 170 lbs, unshaven and wearing a black felt hat, black trench coat, black gloves, light colored pants, and white sneakers. Upon entering the bank, the suspect immediately pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the bank tellers and instructed them to “Give me the [expletive deleted] money.” The suspect placed the money in blue plastic bag and exited the bank. The suspect was observed exiting the bank and walking north east direction towards Brawner Street and Calder Road. The total loss to the bank was $28,314.

Vienna

• Jan. 20, at approximately 2:53 p.m., the Bank Of America located at 235 West Maple Ave. in Vienna, was robbed by two unknown armed suspects, one wearing a black hat, black coat, black pants, black gloves, black and white shoes, a black and white scarf, sunglasses, and carrying a black semi-automatic pistol. The other suspect was wearing a black hat, a face covering, a tan jacket, black pants, black gloves and carrying black semi-automatic pistol. The suspects entered the bank and pointed their guns at the employees and customers and had them all get on the ground. One of the suspects went to several teller stations getting cash from the top and bottom drawers. The bank reported the suspect received $47,491.00 before departing the bank and fleeing to the parking lot where the dye packs exploded. Recovered in the parking lot was $47,330.00.
• Feb. 18: Two subjects robbed the BB&T Bank located at 440 Maple Avenue East, Vienna, at approximately 3:12 p.m.

Falls Church

• March 2: At approximately 12:44 p.m., two armed men dressed in all dark clothing walked into the Wells Fargo Bank, 1000 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, demanded money and robbed the bank. Suspect 1 was described as black, male, approximately 6’, 210 - 220 lbs, 30-36 years old with greyish teeth with gaps between each tooth and wearing a black knit hat with a soft brim, ski mask with eyes and mouth cut out, black and white scarf wrapped around his neck, dingy green puffy jacket, black jean carpenter style pants, possibly wearing white Air Jordan’s, black knit gloves. Suspect 2 was described as a white, male, 5’10 - 5’11, stocky build, mid to late 50 years old with a missing bottom right front tooth. He was described as having a country accent possibly from West Virginia. He was wearing a black stocking cap, black scarf wrapped around his mouth, black mid length wool coat, black pants and black gloves. Suspect 1 pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at a bank employees and customers and ordered them to the ground. Suspect 2 pointed a silver and grey semiautomatic handgun at customers and bank employees and ordered them to the ground. The suspects forced the tellers to give them money. At the conclusion of the robbery, the suspects fled on foot in an eastbound direction. The total loss to the bank was $35,061.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Channing D. Phillips, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Cathy Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tobias D. Tobler and Jonathan L. Fahey prosecuted the case.

The investigation was worked jointly by the FBI’s Washington and Baltimore Field Offices, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfax County Police Department, Falls Church Police Department, Loudoun County Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, Vienna Police Department and Virginia State Police. Additional assistance was provided by Arlington County Police Department, Maryland State Police and the Montgomery County Police Department.