'White Glove Bandit' Who Robbed Redlands Store Is Sentenced

REDLANDS, CA — A 38-year-old Yucaipa man was sentenced to nearly 17 years in federal prison this week for his role in a series of armed robberies committed by a group dubbed the "White Glove Bandits," Department of Justice officials said. Sheyenne Lee Parsons must serve a total of 201 years behind bars for the crimes that happened between April 14 and July 21, 2015 — one of which was in Redlands.

According to the DOJ, Parsons pleaded guilty in August to two counts of armed bank robbery and one count of using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

"But in a plea agreement, Parsons admitted to participating in three armed bank robberies and three retail store robberies – two of which were armed," the DOJ said in a news release.

Officials called the group that Parsons committed the crimes with the the White Glove Bandits "because the thieves wore white, latex gloves in some of the robberies."

Parsons and his co-conspirators first tried to rob a bank on April 13, 2015, but were unsuccessful, according to the DOJ. However, they went on to successfully hold-up a Redlands Toys 'R' Us store along with a Community Valley Bank branch in Palm Desert, a Boot Barn in Upland, a David’s Bridal in Ontario, a Wells Fargo branch in Irvine, and a Chase Bank branch in Banning, the DOJ said.

“These robberies – particularly the armed robberies – terrified the employees and any customers present at the time,” prosecutors wrote in court documents.

United States District James V. Selna also ordered Parsons on Monday to serve four years of supervised release and pay $34,656 in restitution to the victimized banks and stores. Previously, Parsons had bene convicted in Los Angeles Superior Court of robbing a U.S. Bank branch in Culver City on April 30, 2015.

"Parsons is currently serving a five-year state court sentence for robbing the bank by using a demand note and wearing white gloves," the DOJ said Monday. "The federal prison sentence imposed today will run concurrent with the portion of the state prison sentence Parsons has yet to serve."

Two other men are accused in the robbery spree with Parsons, and their cases are pending, according to the DOJ.

— Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone