A Houston man dubbed as the “Big Shades Bandit” has been handed more than 20 years behind bars for a series of bank robberies back in 2022.
Malik Johnson, 23, was sentenced to a total of 20 years and six months in federal prison for orchestrating three armed bank robberies in the Houston area. U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein ordered the sentence.
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In two separate robberies in June and September of 2022, Johnson entered Houston banks and handed tellers notes demanding money. He brandished a black pistol and threatened to harm them if they didn’t cooperate. In both instances, he left after taking the cash, leaving behind the notes.
The same year on October 12, Johnson approached a teller at another bank and repeated his threatening note modus operandi. This time, however, the teller froze and didn’t immediately comply, prompting Johnson to present a semi-automatic pistol. The teller eventually gave him cash, but this time, he began demanding more cash from a different teller at the same bank. After robbing both employees, Johnson left the bank.
During his extended stay at the scene of the October 12 robbery, witnesses were able to observe Johnson wearing a black Chicago White Sox baseball cap with the word “Leek” embroidered on the side.
After the third heist, law enforcement officials received information connecting Johnson to the crimes. Not only did Johnson strongly resemble the suspect, but he owned a car matching the vehicle captured in the surveillance footage from the banks.
If that evidence wasn’t compelling enough investigators also found his personal Instagram account that was connected to the name “Leek.”
Johnson pleaded guilty to the crimes on February 23, 2024.
In handing down Johnson’s sentence, the court noted that Johnson’s actions were those of a serial bank robber.