From High-Stakes Crime to High-Roller Casino Heists: Novelist Arrested After Rolls Royce Bank Robberies

The high-stakes adrenaline of a Detroit casino heist has sent shockwaves through the local community following the apprehension of a former convict turned crime novelist. Dorian Trevor Sykes, 41, turned real-life crime into a pursuit of fortune after a string of brazen bank robberies in the area. He recently made headlines for his cinematic escape, using a luxury Rolls-Royce as a getaway vehicle to evade police after fleeing the high-energy atmosphere of the MGM Grand Detroit casino.

Sykes was linked to two bank heists in March 2024, occurring shortly after his release from federal prison in February. The first robbery targeted Credit Union One in Sterling Heights on March 6, followed by a second one at a Chase branch in Lathrup Village on March 12.

The Chase and Arrest

During the March 12 incident, Sykes reportedly handed a withdrawal slip to a bank teller that ominously stated: “Give me all the money … I have a gun … I will kill everyone in here.” Authorities later reviewed security footage that captured a man matching Sykes’s description fleeing the scene and into a white Rolls-Royce SUV.

In total, Sykes allegedly stole $13,569 from these two heists, with reports indicating that he used part of his ill-gotten gains to rent the luxurious vehicle.

Dorian Sykes’ Criminal Background

• Long-standing Criminal Record: Sykes’s history of bank robbery dates back to at least 2002 when he stole nearly $200,000 during an armed heist at Fifth Third Bank.
• Early Conviction: In 2005, at just 19, he was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for armed robbery, firearm possession, and perjury.
• More Arrests: After being released in 2019, he found himself homeless but quickly returned to crime, getting arrested at MotorCity Casino while wearing the same outfit linked to earlier robberies.

Prolific Literary Career

While Sykes has made a name for himself in the criminal world, he is also a published author with nine novels to his credit since 2011. Notable titles include King of Detroit, The Good Life, Going All Out, and Born to Die. Some of his works were released through Urban Books, a publishing house led by New York Times bestseller Carl Weber.

Psychological Impact of Incarceration

During a letter to the court before his sentencing in 2019, Sykes expressed the psychological toll of his time in prison, stating he was “institutionalized, psychologically scarred, and unable to adapt to the changes in society.” As he faces up to 20 years if convicted of his latest crimes, questions linger about the struggles of reintegrating into society post-incarceration.

Conclusion

Dorian Sykes, a once-promising author and a notorious bank robber, demonstrates the complex issues surrounding rehabilitation and reintegration into society. With a criminal history dating back over two decades and a literary career that often reflects his infamous life, Sykes’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of crime on individuals and their communities.