Salem, Oregon, Washington bank robber sentenced to 9 years in federal prison
Whitney WoodworthA man arrested for robbing four banks, including a Salem Wells Fargo, was sentenced Tuesday to nine years and two months in prison.
Dannie Kay Alston, 67, targeted four banks in the I-5 corridor, hitting Salem, Medford, Roseburg and Vancouver in the span of a month in 2017.
According to federal prosecutors, in each robbery, Alston would attempt to disguise his identity by wearing sunglasses and a ski or baseball cap. He communicated with the targeted bank tellers through handwritten notes or signs. With each robbery, he would make off with a few thousand dollars.
On Aug. 7, 2017, he robbed a teller at a Chase Bank in Vancouver of $2,300. He hit a Wells Fargo bank in Medford eight days later and collected $4,690.
Two weeks later, Alston walked into a Wells Fargo bank branch inside a Safeway on 3380 Lancaster Drive NE while wearing an orange construction vest, beanie cap and dark sunglasses. According to witnesses, he approached the teller counter, demanded cash and left the store on foot with $1,317.
His crime spree ended on Sept. 8, 2017, when he struck the First Interstate Bank in Roseburg. As he was leaving the bank with $3,441, witnesses spotted his getaway car. The vehicle description led to his quick arrest by Oregon State Police.
Police found the note used in the Roseburg robbery, a starter's pistol with loaded caps, a Taser, sunglasses, wig and $3,441 in cash in his possession and in his car.
Alston pleaded guilty in federal court to the four bank robberies in February.
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Prosecutors said Alston is a career offender with a criminal history spanning five decades and four states. He has no permanent address.
He has previous burglary convictions in California and Texas, robbery convictions in California, Florida and Oregon, as well as assault, theft and narcotics convictions.
During sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Michael McShane ordered Alston to pay $11,748 in restitution.
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For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth