Three Men Indicted for Armed Bank Robberies

February 4, 2010 - KANSAS CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that three men were indicted by a federal grand jury today for the armed robberies of three area banks.

Michael K. Scott, 53, of Kansas City, Mo.; Claude White, 54, of Kansas City, Kan.; and Woodrow McCoy, 36, no known address, were charged in an eight-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment replaces two federal criminal complaints that were filed against Scott and McCoy last week, which charged them separately in one of the armed bank robberies.

The federal indictment alleges that Scott and McCoy used firearms to steal $110,200 from Commerce Bank, 9155 N.W. Highway 45, Parkville, Mo., on Jan. 27, 2010. The indictment also alleges that Scott used a firearm to steal $169,430 from Bank Midwest, 6430 N. Crosby, Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 2, 2008. The indictment also alleges that Scott and White used firearms to steal $93,496 from Valley View Bank, 4550 Belleview, Kansas City, Mo., on June 19, 2009.

Scott is also charged with one count of using a using a firearm during a crime of violence in relation to the Bank Midwest robbery. Scott and McCoy are also charged together with one count of using firearms during a crime of violence in relation to the Commerce Bank robbery. Scott and White are also charged together with one count of using firearms during a crime of violence in relation to the Valley View Bank robbery.

Scott is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearm. Scott, who has a prior felony conviction, allegedly possessed a Llama .357-caliber revolver on the date of the Commerce Bank robbery. McCoy is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. McCoy, who has a prior felony conviction, allegedly possessed a Baikal .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on the date of the Commerce Bank robbery.

According to the affidavits filed in support of the federal criminal complaints, Scott was arrested by Kansas City, Mo., police officers following a high-speed car chase after the Commerce Bank robbery on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. Police officers pursued the vehicle, driven by Scott, from the vicinity of Interstate 635 and 18th Street into Kansas City, Kan. The vehicle drove through residential yards and crashed into an embankment in the front yard of a residence. Scott attempted to flee but was apprehended by a police officer.

McCoy, who was a passenger in the vehicle, fled from the scene. McCoy carjacked a truck from a nearby house after demanding the keys from its owner, a 73-year-old man. McCoy was arrested the next day, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce E. Clark and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vanover. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.