Hogsett Announces Sentencing of Bank Robbery Accomplice Who Used Her Own Child in Crime

Indianapolis Woman Allowed Children to be Threatened with a Gun as Part of Robbery Scheme

INDIANAPOLIS—Joseph H. Hogsett, United States Attorney, announced today that Beth A. Moench, age 34, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 41 months (three years, five months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson following her guilty plea to aiding and abetting a bank robbery. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

“As a member of the law enforcement community, and more important, as a parent of young children, I find this behavior to be completely reprehensible,” Hogsett said. “Thanks to the great investigative work of our federal and local partners, we have ensured that these disturbing actions will not go unpunished.”

On September 5, 2009, the Huntington National Bank located at 6714 Rockville Road in Indianapolis was robbed by Michael G. Adkins (who has been convicted for his role in this robbery) and an unidentified male accomplice. While the robbery was taking place, Moench, accompanied by her children, pulled into the parking lot of the bank.

After parking her vehicle, Moench and her children walked into the bank lobby. Moench’s daughter entered the bank first. Adkins immediately grabbed the child and put her head under his arm in a violent manner. Adkins then put the handgun he was carrying to the temple area of Moench’s daughter’s head, forcibly took her to the teller counter, and demanded that the bank tellers cooperate with the robbery. As Adkins held Moench’s daughter, Moench and her son observed from the rear of the bank.

In the course of the investigation into the bank robbery, it was determined that Adkins and his accomplice were assisted by Moench, and Moench later confessed to her involvement in the robbery. Moench told FBI and IMPD officials she knew the bank was going to be robbed prior to taking her children into the lobby and said she was instructed when to take her children to the bank “to add drama.” She also stated she was told that by doing so, bank employees would be more compliant with the robbers’ demands.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys James M. Warden and Doris L. Pryor, who prosecuted the case for the government, Judge Magnus-Stinson also imposed three years’ supervised release following Moench’s release from prison, and she was ordered to pay full restitution to the bank in the amount of $42,259.