DETROIT, MI – A 41-year-old Detroit crime novelist with eight published books and a long criminal history is back in federal custody after allegedly robbing two banks just weeks after his latest prison release.
A History of Bank Robberies
Dorian Trevor Sykes first made headlines in 2002, when he and two accomplices stole nearly $200,000 from a Fifth Third Bank in Detroit. He was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison and released in 2019—only to rob two more banks weeks later, leading to another five-year prison term.
Sykes used his time behind bars to write popular “street novels”, including the Going All Out trilogy. His Barnes & Noble bio promoted him as a rising author, but in March 2024, just weeks after his release, he allegedly returned to his old ways.
Two Robberies in a Week
March 6, 2025: A suspect matching Sykes’ description entered Credit Union One in Sterling Heights, handed the teller an illegible note, then demanded large bills, saying, “This is a robbery.” He fled with $10,169.
March 12, 2025: A man fitting Sykes’ description entered a Chase Bank in Lathrup Village, handed the teller a note stating, “Give me all the money. I have a gun. I will kill everyone in here,” and walked away with $3,400.
Surveillance footage showed the suspect fleeing in a white Rolls-Royce SUV, which FBI agents later spotted outside MGM Grand Casino in Detroit.
How the FBI Caught Him
Cellphone data placed Sykes at both robbery locations.
Fingerprints were recovered from the Credit Union One bank doors.
A black Mercedes, linked to Sykes through probation records, was spotted at one of the crime scenes.
When authorities attempted to arrest him at the casino, Sykes fled in the Rolls-Royce but was eventually taken into custody before March 18.
