Springfield Man Indicted for Robbing Bank at Knife-Point

SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for robbing Great Southern Bank at knife-point yesterday.

Hertin Jibas, 22, of Springfield, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

Today’s indictment alleges that Jibas stole $6,882 from Great Southern Bank, 2735 W. Chestnut Expressway in Springfield. Jibas allegedly used a knife to commit the robbery on Monday, May 9, 2011.

Shortly after the robbery, Greene County Sheriff Jim C. Arnott noticed a parked vehicle that matched the description of the bank robber’s car. Arnott followed the vehicle as it left a convenience store parking lot and conducted a car stop. After back-up officers arrived, Jibas was arrested and officers searched him and his car. Officers found a knife in the front pocket of Jibas’ pants and $6,783 in cash in Jibas’ car.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Springfield Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.