Homeless Man Charged with Northland Bank Robbery

KANSAS CITY, MO—David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a homeless man was charged in federal court today with robbing Bank of the West in Kansas City, Missouri.

Daniel Vermer, 52, was charged with bank robbery in a criminal complaint that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City. Vermer remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s criminal complaint, Vermer—who told investigators that he is homeless and has been living in the woods—entered Bank of the West, 5245 N.W. 64th St., Kansas City, and approached a bank employee. Vermer allegedly told the employee to “Lay 50s and 100s on the counter,” and added, “I have a pistol, and I don’t want to hurt anybody.” The employee placed money on the counter, and Vermer allegedly demanded more money. As Vermer started reaching in his pocket, the affidavit says he stated, “Don’t make me pull my pistol!” Vermer allegedly demanded the money in all the teller drawers and warned the employee not to pull any alarms.

The bank employee placed $5,095 in a plastic grocery bag, according to the affidavit, and Vermer walked out of the bank. Kansas City Police officers located Vermer in the area of the bank, and he was arrested. Vermer told investigators that he had changed his clothes in the nearby woods and walked to The Outlaw, a neighboring business, and purchased a cigar. As he was leaving the business, he was stopped by police officers.

Ketchmark cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint 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 Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce E. Clark. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the FBI.

Sugar Creek Man Charged with Bank Robbery

KANSAS CITY, MO—David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Sugar Creek, Missouri man was charged in federal court today with robbing Metcalf Bank in Kansas City, Missouri.

Raymond F. Paris, 71, of Sugar Creek, was charged with bank robbery in a criminal complaint that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri. Paris remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.

According to an affidavit that was filed in support of today’s criminal complaint, Paris entered Metcalf Bank, 4668 Blue Ridge Blvd., on Thursday, July 5, 2012. While he was standing at the teller counter, Paris allegedly pulled a mask (a nylon stocking with holes) down over his face. Paris allegedly approached the teller counter and pulled two large manila folders from under his shirt. He handed one of the folders to the teller in front of him and tossed the other folder to another teller, the affidavit says, stating, “Why don’t you fill that up.”

When one of the tellers hesitated, Paris allegedly said, “What do you think this is?” while he lifted up his shirt. The teller did not see a gun, the affidavit says, but assumed there must have been one there. According to the affidavit, Paris later told law enforcement officers that he had a BB gun in his waistband. One of the tellers was able to activate a silent alarm. The tellers put a total of $8,497 in the envelopes and gave them to Paris, who left the bank.

Kansas City police officers located Paris at his residence in Sugar Creek later the same day and surrounded the house. Paris, who refused to come out of the house, asked for a cigarette, and officers placed it on the deck outside. When Paris went to get the cigarette he was placed into custody.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the FBI.

Former KCKPD Officer Sentenced to Prison for Violating Civil Rights Law

KANSAS CITY, KS—A former officer for the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing electronics from houses where his team served search warrants, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Darrell M. Forrest, 32, Kansas City, Kan., was sentenced to 12 months and a day, followed by a year of supervised release.

Forrest pleaded guilty to violating a federal civil rights statute that makes it a crime for police officers acting under color of law to deny or conspire to deny anyone’s civil rights.

Forrest was a member of the KCKPD’s Selective Crime Occurrence Reduction Enforcement Unit (SCORE Unit), which was a special weapons and tactics unit assigned to serve search warrants. In January 2011, investigators for the KCKPD and the FBI set up a sting operation in which the SCORE Unit was sent to a house that was being monitored. Investigators placed cash, electronic games and other items in the house before the SCORE unit arrived.

In his plea, Forrest admitted stealing $300 cash, two video game cartridges and an Apple iPod Touch from the house. Forrest also stole a digital camcorder on July 7, 2010, during the execution of a search warrant from a residence in Kansas City, Kan.

Co-defendants are Jeffrey M. Bell, 34, Kansas City, Kan., who is set for sentencing July 3, and Dustin Sillings, 34, Kansas City, Kan., who is set for sentencing July 5.

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom commended the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the FBI and the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office for their work on the case. Grissom and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt prosecuted the case.

Kansas City Man Charged in Armed Bank Robbery Attempt

Suspect Fled When Guard Fired Shots

KANSAS CITY, MO—David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was charged in federal court today for attempting to rob Blue Ridge Bank and Trust at gunpoint. The robber fled without taking any money when a security guard shot at him. An armed federal agent who was a customer at the bank joined the guard to pursue the fleeing robber.

Eric L. Smith, 33, of Kansas City, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. The complaint charges Smith with attempted armed bank robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer.

According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s criminal complaint, Smith entered Blue Ridge Bank and Trust, 6202 Raytown Trafficway, Raytown, Mo., at about 10:05 a.m. Saturday, June 23, 2012. Smith allegedly covered his face with his shirt and brandished a semi-automatic handgun. Smith approached a bank security guard, the affidavit says, and demanded his weapon. Instead, the guard drew his 9mm Glock handgun and fired three rounds at Smith, who was less than 10 feet away. The only customer in the bank, a special agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration, also drew his weapon but did not fire. The guard and the federal agent chased Smith as he fled from the bank, the affidavit says.

According to the affidavit, Smith stopped about 20 yards from the bank, turned, and fired one shot toward the guard and the federal agent. Smith continued running around the strip mall and escaped.

On Tuesday, June 26, 2012, a tip was received by the Crimestoppers TIP hot line by a confidential source who reported that Smith had a bandaged right hand since Saturday. Law enforcement officers went to the residence of Smith’s mother, where he was staying, and Smith was arrested on outstanding warrants. When officers searched the residence they found a loaded .40-caliber Ruger, which matches the handgun used in the attempted bank robbery. Smith was later identified in bank surveillance photos. Law enforcement officers also identified a vehicle at Smith’s residence that matches a vehicle in security video surveillance of the parking lot.

Ketchmark cautioned that the charges contained in this complaint 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 Christina Tabor. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Raytown, Mo., Police Department.

KC Man Sentenced to 87 Years in Prison for Two Armed Bank Robberies, Resulting in Death of Security Guard

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced today for his role in two armed bank robberies in 2006 in which he shot and killed a security guard.

Iralee E. French, Jr., 25, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 87 years in federal prison without parole.

On July 22, 2011, French was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery in connection with two robbery attempts at United Missouri Bank, 7901 Wornall Road in Kansas City, in February 2006. During the second robbery attempt at the bank on Feb. 24, 2006, French shot 70–year–old security guard Dwight W. Mayhugh, Sr., who died the next day.

French’s co–conspirator, Thirplus Moose, 24, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty on July 8, 2011, to conspiracy to commit bank robbery, armed bank robbery with forcible restraint and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death. Moose is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, June 29, 2012. Under the terms his plea agreement, Moose could be sentenced to 22 to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

French and Moose used a shotgun to rob United Missouri Bank on Feb. 9, 2006. During that robbery, they confronted a bank teller in an underground parking garage as she was about to enter the bank at approximately 6:40 a.m. French pointed a shotgun at the teller, who was forced to give the robbers $8,263 from her teller station. After returning to the parking garage, the teller was ordered at gunpoint to get into the trunk of her vehicle, which she repeatedly refused to do. When she began screaming and crying, the robbers left the bank with the teller’s vehicle, which was recovered the next day after being abandoned by the robbers.

French and Moose returned to the bank on Feb. 24, 2006. Using a shotgun, the robbers confronted Mayhugh when he drove into the same underground parking garage. French shot Mayhugh in the right shoulder and neck from approximately 10 feet away through the driver’s side window of his vehicle. The robbers then forced Mayhugh out of his vehicle and into the bank. They demanded access to money, but Mayhugh responded that he did not have access to bank money. The robbers then stole Mayhugh’s 2002 Geo Tracker and drove it away from the parking lot. The vehicle was recovered later the same day.

Mayhugh, bleeding from severe chest and neck wounds, walked to the convenience store across the street from the bank and told the store clerk he had been shot. The clerk immediately called 911 for an ambulance. Another store clerk, seeing Mayhugh’s blood–soaked shirt and wounds in the neck and throat area, got a chair for him to sit on. The clerks placed towels over the wounds until paramedics arrived at the store. Mayhugh was transported to a hospital for treatment, but died the next day.

Law enforcement officers were unable to develop substantial leads or investigative progress in the bank robberies throughout the remainder of 2006, 2007 and a portion of 2008. On Aug. 12–13, 2008, law enforcement officers conducted a large scale re–canvas of the area around 23rd Street and Oakley in Kansas City. Nearly 500 houses were targeted to be canvassed in this operation. As a result of the publicity related to this re–canvas, a Yellow Cab taxi driver came forward and provided information related to the investigation. The taxi driver told investigators that, on the morning of the bank robbery, he picked up two men in the area of 5609 E. 23rd (the same area where the stolen vehicles were recovered) and drove them to the area of 79th Street and Brookside (a block east of United Missouri Bank), where he dropped them off.

Law enforcement investigators connected the telephone number that was used to call the taxi company with the telephone number provided by Moose, who had been contacted during the original canvas of the 23rd Street area on the day of the fatal bank robbery attempt.

This case is being prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.