A Garland man pleaded guilty Tuesday morning for robbing three banks in Garland, Rockwall and Quilan, but not until his own mother turned him in to the FBI.
Anthony Blue’s mother was alerted by a family member that the 19-year-old was on the website www.bandittracker.com, for robbing the State Bank of Texas in Garland and the Community Bank in Rockwall.
Once Blue’s mother saw that the “Earlobe Bandit” was her son, she called the FBI. Blue's mother and father positively identified their son when FBI agents showed them bank photos from the robberies.
"It's very difficult for a mother to do what his mother did and actually turn in her own child,” said Bruce Kaye, Blue’s attorney. “But she knows that this was the right thing to do.”
Blue’s mother says she doesn't regret her decision because it was a matter of right and wrong.
"He is not at all upset with his mother for doing this, he applauds what she did,” said Kaye. “He knows she did the right thing and he stands by his mom 100 percent for his decision."
On June 14, 2011 Blue robbed the State Bank of Texas in Garland and the Community Bank in Rockwall. In both instances he approached a teller and presented a demand note to the teller that read, “50's 100's and no body gets hurt, sorry.”
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Then on July 8, 2011, Blue robbed the American Nation Bank in Quinlan, giving the teller a note that read, "Empty Drawer 20's, 50's, 100's, 5 seconds."
The FBI estimates Blue got away with nearly $9,000 from all three robberies.
"From the start, Anthony is really remorseful about he did,” Kaye added. “Even the notes that he gave tellers all said 'I'm so sorry, that I'm doing this."
Blue’s lawyer said the 19-year-old turned to crime to pay off debt he accumulated after moving out of his parents’ home. Blue faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9, 2012.
