Alan and Alex Stokes Convicted Following 2019 Fake Bank Robbery Pranks

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On October 15, 2019, Alan and Alex Stokes staged two fake bank robberies in Irvine, California. Dressed in black with ski masks and carrying duffel bags filled with cash, the brothers attempted to enter an Uber vehicle while pretending to flee a robbery. The driver, who was unaware of the prank, refused to transport them. A bystander witnessed the scene and contacted 911, leading the Irvine Police Department to respond. Officers initially held the innocent driver at gunpoint before determining he was not involved in any criminal activity. Despite police warnings, the brothers staged a second similar prank four hours later at the University of California, Irvine. In August 2020, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office charged the brothers with felony false imprisonment and misdemeanor counts of falsely reporting an emergency. In March 2021, Alan Stokes was convicted of "false imprisonment (effected by violence, menace, fraud, or deceit) and two misdemeanor counts of falsely reporting an emergency," according to Orange County District Attorney's Office; Alex Stokes was convicted of "false imprisonment (effected by violence, menace, fraud, or deceit) and two misdemeanor counts of falsely reporting an emergency," according to Orange County District Attorney's Office. As part of their plea deal, they were sentenced to 160 hours of community service, one year of formal probation, and ordered to pay restitution.