Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Robbing Four Banks

PHOENIX—Michael Yanni, 26, of Phoenix and formerly of Scottsdale, Arizona, pleaded guilty yesterday to four counts of bank robbery for robbing banks in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the Carefree area in 2006 and 2007.

Yanni pleaded guilty to committing four bank robberies on June 13, 2006, February 13, 2007, March 13, 2007, and March 30, 2007. Bank employees or tellers from all four banks positively identified Yanni as the robber. He typically wore a bandana and mirrored aviator sunglasses. Yanni approached bank tellers asking them to make change for a larger bill, and when the tellers would open their cash drawers, he would either reach over the counter and grab the money from the drawers, or jump up on the counter and grab the money from the drawers.

In December 2008, an anonymous caller left a message for the Scottsdale Police Department on their TIP line identifying Yanni as the bank robber. Detectives from the Scottsdale Police Department and the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force followed up on the lead and ultimately arrested him.

A conviction for four counts bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 80 years in federal prison, a total fine of $1,000,000, or both. Sentencing is set before The Honorable Neil V. Wake on October 18, 2010.

The FBI has partnered with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Mesa Police Department, the Phoenix Police Department, the Scottsdale Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to form the Violent Crime/Bank Robbery Task Force in order to investigate, arrest and seek prosecution of those responsible for robbing banks in the Valley. The prosecution in this case is being handled by Jennifer E. Green, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.