Utah bank robber sentenced to federal prison

A convicted two-time bank robber was sentenced Wednesday afternoon to serve 84 months in federal prison.

David Warren Evans, 44, of Magna was convicted last September for the armed robbery of a Wells Fargo bank at 1255 E. Brickyard Road in Salt Lake City. As part of the sentence, Evans has to pay about $1,700 in restitution to the bank, according to a news release.

Evans admitted as part of his plea agreement that he entered the bank and handed the teller a note demanding cash, according to the release. He held what appeared to be a handgun so the teller could see it, and the teller complied with his demand, the release adds.

Investigators disseminated still photos of Evans to the media, and eventually were able to identify him as the suspect.

Evans also admitted to robbing a Wells Fargo at 4740 S. 900 East in Murray the same month as the Salt Lake City heist, according to the release. In that robbery, he handed the teller a note that read: "This is a robbery, don't make it a murder."

Even after he is released, Evans will be on supervised release for 60 months. His sentencing comes amid a sharp spike in bank robberies, with the state seeing its highest numbers in a decade, according to federal statistics.

Police, FBI investigators and bankers gathered at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building Tuesday to discuss the problem and how to stem the tide.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mikeypanda