Georgia Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Repeat Bank Robberies in Savannah

David Wayne Stanley, 59, of Cochran, Georgia, has been sentenced to 160 months in federal prison for bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia. This marks Stanley’s second federal prison term for such offenses.

According to court documents, Stanley pleaded guilty to robbing two tellers at a Wells Fargo Bank in Savannah in October 2023, claiming he was armed and demanding cash. Investigators identified Stanley’s vehicle as the getaway car, leading to his arrest at his residence with the assistance of Chatham County Police Department and FBI officials.

Stanley, who was on supervised release for a prior bank robbery conviction at the time of the 2023 incident, has a history of similar offenses. His criminal record includes a federal conviction for a Savannah bank robbery in 2016 and a state prison sentence in Texas for multiple bank robberies in 2009.

“Stanley’s prior prison time was apparently not enough of a teaching moment for him because he returned to his bank robbing ways while he was still on parole for the last bank robbery he committed,” said Will Clarke, Senior Supervisory Special Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Savannah office. “Thanks to the assistance of our partners with the Chatham County Police Department, he’ll have a long stint in federal prison to think about what he’ll do the next time he is released.”

In addition to his prison term, Stanley has been ordered to pay $6,677 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration. Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also imposed an additional 12-month sentence for violating his previous supervised release conditions.

“This significant sentence reflects Stanley’s repeated disregard for the law and underscores the commitment to protect our communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “It is imperative to hold him accountable for his actions.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and Chatham County Police Department, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese.