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Trial begins for last 'Bluetooth' bank robbery suspect

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
(Updated 7:32 pm)

GREENSBORO — A former bank teller recalled having a handgun shoved in her face and later jabbed in her back as testimony began Tuesday in the trial of the last suspect accused in the “Bluetooth Bandit” bank robbery spree.

Jurors this week are to decide the fate of Emmanuelle Khnak Dancy, the last of six people charged in a series of 10 robberies of at least nine area banks from September 2006 through January 2008.

Dancy, 26, is charged with five counts each of robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Penny Tindall testified in Guilford County Superior Court about the midmorning robbery at MidCarolina Bank’s West Friendly Avenue branch on Sept. 27, 2006.

Tindall, assigned to the vault, recalled overhearing a fellow teller pleading as three men in dark, hooded sweatshirts and sunglasses stormed the bank armed with handguns.

“I noticed another person coming through the (front) door,” Tindall said. “He stopped in the lobby and he pointed a gun at me....I froze.”

Tindall said one of the men forced her to the vault with orders to fill a white trash bag with cash.

The men also took money from tellers before fleeing.

In all, the robbers made off with nearly $70,000. No customers were in the bank.

Tindall, whose testimony is expected to continue today, is one of several bank employees prosecutors intend to call to the witness stand. Prosecutors say they will describe the threatening demeanor of the robbers and the fear they left with victims. More than $525,000 was stolen in the bank robbery sprees.

Assistant District Attorney Bill Wood said he intends to call three of Dancy’s co-defendants: brothers Anthony and Eric Payne, and Daniella Smith, who Wood said served as a lookout during one of the robberies.

Dancy’s defense lawyer, Tom Maddox, said he intends to show jurors Dancy was friends with only some of the people convicted in the robbery spree. Maddox said and that no credible witness can prove Dancy actually took part in the robberies.

The FBI dubbed the bank robbers the “Bluetooth Bandits” because the men wore cell phone devices in their ears during the robberies.

The ringleader, Christopher Collins, was sentenced to at least 100 years in prison following a conviction in February. The Payne brothers pleaded guilty to charges in March and are awaiting sentencing, as is Smith.

A second lookout, Sabrina Lynn Phillips, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for her role.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

Courtesy Guilford County jail

Photo Caption: Emmanuelle Dancy

Additional Photos

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