LOS ANGELES – A Pasadena man was sentenced today for the commission of a series of bank robberies culminating in an armed robbery at a Pasadena bank where he brandished a shotgun and placed it to the side of a bank employee's head while demanding money.

Shownee Shon Smith, 41, was sentenced today to over 10 years in prison by United States District Judge Percy Anderson for robbing a Wells Fargo Bank branch in East Pasadena while armed with a loaded shotgun. In addition to the prison term, Smith was sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $20,285 in restitution to the victimized banks.

On June 10, 2017, Pasadena Police Department officers responded to alarms and a 911 call from inside the Wells Fargo branch and arrested Smith immediately after he exited the bank.

According to court records, Smith committed six bank robberies between May 15 and June 10, 2017. In addition to the Wells Fargo robbery in East Pasadena, Smith was charged with robbing branches of US Bank in Burbank on May 15, Wells Fargo in South Pasadena also on May 15, Chase Bank in East Pasadena on May 20, Chase Bank in North Hollywood on May 27, and Citibank in Tarzana also on May 27. Prior to the Wells Fargo robbery on June 10, Smith had allegedly used notes to demand money from bank employees.

The case against Smith is the result of an investigation by the FBI, which received substantial assistance from the Pasadena Police Department, the South Pasadena Police Department, the Burbank Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Santa Monica Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Small of the General Crimes Section.

Component(s): USAO – California, Central

Contact: Thom Mrozek Spokesperson/Public Affairs Officer United States Attorney's Office Central District of California (Los Angeles) 213-894-6947

Press Release Number: 18-047     Updated March 26, 2018

Central District of California DOJ / 18-047 / March 26, 2018