FROM STAFF REPORTS

A federal judge on April 23 sentenced a Maylene man to 14 years in prison for two 2012 bank robberies in the Birmingham Metropolitan area, according to U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein.

U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Tony Joe White, 42, for the Aug. 22 robbery of a Wells Fargo bank in Homewood and the Aug. 23 robbery of a Regions Bank in Mountain Brook. White pleaded guilty to both bank robberies in January.

According to court records, White walked into the Wells Fargo Bank, approached a teller and demanded money, then reached over the counter and grabbed about $600 before fleeing the bank and leaving in a waiting car driven by another man.

The next morning, White entered the Regions Bank, presented a note demanding money and took about $1,500. He left the Mountain Brook bank on a bicycle and was arrested a few minutes later.

The FBI, in conjunction with the Homewood and Mountain Brook Police Departments, investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy prosecuted.