Federal Grand Jury Indicts Couple for Bank Robbery

Couple Had Premature Infant in Bank Seat of Their Getaway Car

February 3, 2010 - DALLAS—A federal grand jury in Dallas returned an indictment yesterday charging Waylon McDonald, 32, and Inequa Rushing, 24, both of Dallas, with conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Both are charged with committing the January 19, 2009, robbery of Comerica Bank at 5201 East R.L Thornton Freeway in Dallas. They have been in custody since their arrest shortly after the robbery.

According to the complaint filed in the case, Rushing entered the bank at approximately 1:51 p.m. and approached a teller station. Rushing was on her cell phone at the time. The teller asked Rushing if she could be of assistance and Rushing placed her brown purse and a handwritten note face down on the counter. The teller turned the note over to read it and it stated, “I HAVE A GUN GIVE ME THE MONEY - N- NO ONE WILL GET HURT.. ‘HURRY’ Bitch!!” The teller removed currency and a dye pack from her drawer and handed it to the suspect. Rushing then put the money in her purse and told the teller not to touch anything. Rushing left the bank with the money and fled in a getaway car driven by Waylon McDonald.

When Dallas Police Officers arrived at the bank, they found Rushing’s brown purse in the parking lot, and could see the red dye stained money and assorted identification and personal papers for Inequa Rushing, listing an address in Dallas. They went to that address and spoke to Rushing and McDonald. Rushing told officers that she had robbed the bank and that McDonald had driven her to and from the bank. A search of the residence revealed the wig, clothing, and red dye-stained shoes that Rushing had worn during the robbery. According to evidence presented at their detention hearing, the red dye-pack exploded in the getaway car, spraying noxious fumes and dye. Rushing’s 4-month-old baby, who was on oxygen because of premature birth, was in the back seat of the getaway car at the time.

An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. Upon conviction, however, the conspiracy count carries a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Upon conviction, the bank robbery count carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Tromblay is in charge of the prosecution.