Tyrone Edward Wright Guilty of 3 Bank Heists in 24 Hours

Three banks. One day. $6,577 stolen. Tyrone Edward Wright, 46, of Washington, D.C., didn’t waste time. In a 24-hour crime spree across the NOMA neighborhood, Wright walked into three banks, slapped down demand notes, and walked out with cash—before FBI and MPD caught him blocks from the last heist, money stuffed in his shoes and pockets.

A federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia convicted Wright on three counts of bank robbery. The verdict, delivered today, marks the end of a high-speed spree that began at 3:30 p.m. on April 20, 2016, at the Premier Bank branch on First Street NE. Less than 24 hours later, Wright struck again—first at a TD Bank at 12:25 p.m., then, eight minutes later, back at the same Premier Bank location.

Security footage from each bank captured Wright in clear detail—calm, deliberate, methodical. No weapon was displayed. No violence erupted. But the demand notes were clear: hand over the cash. He left each branch with money and his note, as if collecting trophies. A total of $6,577 was taken across the three robberies, all within a tight corridor of First Street NE.

Wright didn’t make it far after the final robbery. Law enforcement intercepted him coming out of a public library in the 100 block of L Street NW—minutes and blocks from the last bank. The cash from the final heist was still on him, stashed in his shoes and clothing. The arrest was swift, the evidence undeniable.

Wright represented himself at trial, facing off against federal prosecutors without legal counsel. Despite the self-representation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all counts. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he now faces 70 to 87 months in prison. Sentencing will be determined by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras at a later date.

U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, FBI Assistant Director Andrew Vale, and MPD Interim Chief Peter Newsham credited the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force—with support from the U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Energy Inspector General’s Office, and D.C. Public Library Police—for the rapid takedown. They also praised Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Gripkey, who prosecuted the case, and support staff whose work helped secure the conviction.