Desloge Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robberies, Faces 30 Years in Prison

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Desloge, Mo., man, who was arrested after a high-speed chase in Callaway County, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court today to two separate indictments that charge him with robbing four banks and with illegally possessing a firearm.

James Todd Hulsey, 53, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to one count of bank robbery involving Adams Dairy Bank in Blue Springs, Mo., in which he brandished a loaded firearm. Hulsey also pleaded guilty to the charges contained in a separate indictment, related to three additional bank robberies in Springfield, Ill.

Hulsey admitted that he robbed Adams Dairy Bank, 651 N.E. Coronado Dr., Blue Springs, on Oct. 14, 2016. Hulsey approached the teller counter at approximately 12:15 p.m., displayed a loaded Diamondback Arms 9mm pistol, presented a demand note to the teller and threatened to kill her. The teller turned over $7,845 and Hulsey fled from the bank on foot. Descriptions of the robber and the associated vehicle used in the robbery were broadcast to law enforcement agencies.

A couple of hours later, a state trooper saw Hulsey’s vehicle traveling eastbound on I-70 in Callaway County, Mo., and attempted to stop the vehicle. A vehicle pursuit ensued, reaching speeds over 120 miles per hour. Hulsey’s vehicle got a flat tire and ran off the road. Hulsey fled from the vehicle on foot and a 75-yard foot pursuit took place before Hulsey was taken into custody. The pistol was found inside Hulsey’s vehicle; officers also saw U.S. currency blowing out of the driver’s side door of the vehicle as well as located throughout the front passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Hulsey also admitted that he stole $13,634 from Chase Bank in Springfield, Ill., on Sept. 28, 2016. He stole $4,750 from PNC Bank in Springfield, Ill., on Oct. 3, 2016. He stole $2,104 from Chase Bank in Springfield, Ill., on Oct. 7, 2016. Hulsey provided the teller with a note indicating that he was robbing the bank in each of the three robberies and implied that force would be used if necessary. During the Oct. 7, 2016, robbery a semi-automatic handgun can be seen in Hulsey’s hand in a video recording of the robbery.

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas agrees not to file charges based upon Hulsey committing a bank robbery on Sept. 23, 2016, at First National Bank, 4650 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kan.; however, Hulsey must pay the restitution related to this uncharged bank robbery.

Hulsey has five prior felony convictions for bank robbery and felony convictions for an illegal weapon and for receiving stolen property.

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Hulsey will be sentenced to 30 years in federal prison without parole and must pay restitution to each of the victim banks. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily A. Morgan, Western District of Missouri, Greg Gilmore, Central District of Illinois and Leon Patton, District of Kansas. It was investigated by the FBI, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield, Ill., Police Department and the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department.