The so-called Scarecrow Bandits were convicted of multiple counts of armed robbery, attempted robbery, firearms violations and conspiracy for their "enterprise" of robbing Metroplex banks, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals notes in a new ruling. But the court has thrown out charges related to the attempted robbery of two banks in Fort Worth and Garland, saying that federal prosecutors' argument for the charges "is without the slightest merit." There's small consolation in that for the bandits. The court rejected the bank robbers' argument that their other heists constituted one overarching conspiracy, rather than multiple conspiracies - a point that could have significantly reduced their sentences. The ruling also notes that although the bandits' criminal enterprise "enjoyed some success, the enterprise of appealing their convictions is likely of marginal value to them, given the extensive services they will have to serve."
An interesting note: the bandits abandoned their plan of robbing a Bank of America in Fort Worth because of a wink. The bandits, armed with guns, drove to the bank and parked and waited for a ringleader, Corey Duffey, to give a sign to proceed. But outside the bank, "a man seemed to give Duffey a knowing wink, which led Duffey to think the man indicated some knowledge of what was happening," the ruling states. "He immediately canceled the robbery. The rest of the group dispersed and returned to Dallas." By the way, the bandits got their nicknames because of the flannel shirts and floppy hats they wore. - Lois Norder
