Suspected ‘SOS Bandit,’ Getaway Driver Arrested

FBI Phoenix
14 March 2017

Jill McCabe | Brooke Brennan
(623) 466-1999

PHOENIX, AZ—On Tuesday, March 7, 2017, members of the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force arrested Cornetta Newton, 46, who is believed to be the “SOS (Slip-On Shoe) Bandit”.

Newton was arrested during an attempted bank robbery at Amtrust Bank in Scottsdale (8764 E. Shea Boulevard).

Newton is charged with four bank robberies in Scottsdale, Chandler, and Tempe between January 30, 2017 and February 16, 2017. She is also charged with the attempted bank robbery in Scottsdale on March 7, 2017.

The suspect was nicknamed the Slip-On Shoe bandit because she wore slip-on shoes during some of the bank robberies.

The following day, March 8, 2017, members of the Scottsdale Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit arrested Sherbly Gordon, 46, who is suspected of driving Newton in three of the bank robberies. Gordon is also charged with committing a separate bank robbery in Chandler.

The FBI Bank Robbery Task Force would like to thank the Scottsdale Police Department, the Chandler Police Department, and the Tempe Police Department who are working this case jointly with the FBI. The FBI would also like to thank the media and the public for their assistance with this case.

The two suspects have been charged in a criminal complaint filed in federal court. A complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for Arizona at http://www.azd.uscourts.gov/ or on PACER https://www.pacer.gov/.

The FBI Bank Robbery Task Force is comprised of the Phoenix Police Department, Scottsdale Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.

In accordance with our policy, the FBI does not provide mug shots. No further information will be released at this time.

MAGISTRATE NUMBER: 2:17-mj-07088 and 2:17-mj-07111