‘Fake Beard Bandit’ Enters Guilty Plea to Seven Armed Bank Robberies in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas

FORT SMITH, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Jason Day pleaded guilty today to seven counts of armed bank robbery, one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. Chief United States District Court Judge Paul K. Holmes accepted the guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Day faces up to 25 years’ imprisonment for each count of armed bank robbery and 20 years’ imprisonment each for the bank robbery and attempted bank robbery counts.

United States Attorney Eldridge commented, “We are dedicated to prosecuting crimes such as this that threaten our communities. The defendant in this case engaged in a string of robberies across four states. We will continue to work together to pursue individuals that engage in this type of criminal activity.”

Per court records, on August 23, 2011, a white male disguised with a fake beard, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, entered the Liberty Bank of Arkansas on Old Greenwood Road in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The individual, later identified as the defendant, ordered a bank teller to put cash in a bag or he was “going to shoot.” The defendant carried what witnesses described as a black semiautomatic handgun and pointed it two individuals working at the bank, who complied with the robber’s commands. Before leaving the bank, the defendant told everyone inside the bank to lie on the ground for five minutes. He stated his partner outside the bank was watching and would shoot anyone who stood up.

Detective Story, with the Fort Smith Police Department, determined that the person who robbed the Liberty Bank of Arkansas was likely the “Fake Beard Bandit,” due to the same disguise, grey getaway vehicle, and similar mannerisms as that of the individual who attempted to rob the River Town Credit Union in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on July 22, 2011. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned that the “Fake Beard Bandit” was also a suspect in bank robberies in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas. According to investigative reports, the “Fake Beard Bandit” would enter a bank wearing street clothes and would return to the bank later that same day wearing a disguise that included a fake beard. Surveillance videos and reports from “Fake Beard Bandit” bank robberies indicated that the vehicle driven by the robber was a grey Volkswagen Jetta with an Oklahoma license plate.

A warrant for Day’s arrest was authorized by Chief United States Magistrate Judge James R. Marschewski on August 26, 2011 and the defendant was arrested at his residence in Tulsa, Oklahoma the same day. After he was arrested, Day was identified as the individual in the other “Fake Beard Bandit” robbery surveillance photos. Other “Fake Beard Bandit” robberies perpetrated by Day include: First National Bank of Coweta in Oklahoma on May 26, 2011; Bank of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City (Pennsylvania Avenue Branch) on May 26, 2011; Bank of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City (Northwest Expressway Branch) on June 10, 2011; IBC Bank in Oklahoma City on June 29, 2011; Hometown Bank in Joplin, Missouri on July 13, 2011; Bank of Blue Valley in Shawnee, Kansas on July 25, 2011; and Bank Midwest in Olathe, Kansas on August 3, 2011. The cases against Day in the Western District of Oklahoma, the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the District of Kansas and the Western District of Missouri were all transferred to the Western District of Arkansas for simultaneous prosecution.

This case was investigated by the Fort Smith Police Department, the Coweta, Oklahoma Police Department, the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Police Department, the Joplin, Missouri Police Department, the Olathe, Kansas Police Department, the Shawnee, Kansas Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas. Assistant United States Attorney Kyra Jenner prosecuted the case for the United States.

Arkansas Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Nearly $500,000 in Two Armed Bank Robberies, Faces 30 Years in Prison

SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Fort Smith, Ark., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to two armed bank robberies in Springfield, Mo., and Joplin, Mo.

Robert Bruce Knepper, 45, of Fort Smith, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. England to the charges contained in an April 7, 2011, federal indictment. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Knepper will be sentenced to 30 years in federal prison without parole.

By pleading guilty today, Knepper admitted that he robbed Liberty Bank in Springfield on March 29, 2010, and Great Southern Bank in Joplin on Sept. 16, 2010. Knepper also admitted that he used a loaded handgun, which he carried in a shoulder holster, to steal $80,000 from Liberty Bank. Knepper used a loaded Springfield Armory 9mm handgun to steal $404,350 from Great Southern Bank.

Knepper also pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the Great Southern Bank robbery.

According to court documents, Knepper entered Liberty Bank, 210 N. W. Bypass, Springfield, at approximately 4:45 p.m. on March 29, 2010. He presented a note to a bank employee and demanded the bank manager give him cash from the bank’s vault. Knepper, who placed his hand on the pistol grip of the handgun, threatened several times to kill everyone in the bank. The manager placed $80,000 from the bank vault into a bank bag and gave the bag to Knepper. Knepper took the keys to the bank manager’s vehicle and fled in the manager’s car, which was abandoned about a mile away from the bank.

According to court documents, Knepper entered Great Southern Bank, 1232 S. Range Line Rd., Joplin, at 5 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2010. Knepper brandished a handgun, jumped over the teller counter, pointed the handgun at bank employees and demanded they open the vault.

On Feb. 13, 2011, a bag containing a handgun was found at a Red Lobster restaurant in Fort Smith. Police officers also found $166,000 in the bag, along with various hotel and car rental receipts. The receipts led officers to Knepper, who was staying at a Comfort Inn in Fort Smith, and he was arrested.

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. Attorney Robyn L. McKee. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the Fort Smith, Ark., Police Department.

14 Defendants Indicted for Meth Trafficking and Illegal Firearms

OCDETF Investigation

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that 14 defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy and for illegally possessing firearms. The federal indictment is the result of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into a multi–state methamphetamine–trafficking organization. The drug–trafficking organization allegedly distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri and elsewhere.

The indictment, which was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of several defendants.

Ricky Del Prigg, 54, Dennis R. Reid, 53, and Hector Ferrer–Chavez, 55, a citizen of Mexico, all of Joplin, Mo.; Donald D. Simonds, Jr., 37, Timothy L. Kent, 49, and Lori Kent, 49, all of Carthage, Mo.; Darrell Thomason, 42, of Jasper, Mo.; Harold E. Holland, 40, of Sarcoxie, Mo.; Tony Raley, 41, of Wentworth, Mo.; Noel Reyes–Garcia, 41, a citizen of Mexico residing in Arkansas; Iris Leticia Correa, 40, a citizen of Mexico residing in Garland, Texas; Gerardo Antonio Garcia, a citizen of Mexico, and Jefferson White, 44, both of Springdale, Ark.; and Lyndsey M. Johnson, 32, of Rogers, Ark.; were charged in a 26–count indictment.

The federal indictment alleges that all of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in Jasper County, Mo., and elsewhere from May 2010 to Jan. 25, 2011.

In addition to the drug–trafficking conspiracy, Prigg is charged with participating in a money–laundering conspiracy. The indictment alleges that Prigg conducted financial transactions that involved the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. Prigg is also charged with six counts of distributing methamphetamine in Jasper County.

Ferrer–Chavez is also charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Jasper County, and one count of illegally reentering the United States after having been deported.

Simonds and Thomason are also charged together with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Jasper County.

Reid is also charged with attempting to destroy methamphetamine in order to prevent its seizure by law enforcement officers.

Timothy and Lori Kent are also charged with making their apartment in Carthage available for illegally storing methamphetamine.

Holland was also charged with two counts of being a felon and an unlawful user of marijuana while in possession of firearms and ammunition. The indictment alleges that Holland was in possession of a Harrington and Richardson .22–caliber revolver and five rounds of ammunition on Nov. 9, 2010, in Lawrence County, Mo. The indictment also alleges that Holland was in possession of a Savage Arms 410 shotgun, a Savage 12–gauge shotgun and ammunition on Dec. 4, 2010, in Lawrence County. Holland was also charged with one count of possessing a sawed–off shotgun.

Raley is also charged with four counts of distributing methamphetamine in Lawrence County.

Correa is also charged with two counts, and White with three counts, of using a telephone to facilitate the drug–trafficking conspiracy.

The federal indictment also contains forfeiture allegations, which would require Ferrer–Chavez to forfeit to the government $1,517 that was seized by law enforcement officers, and would require Holland to forfeit to the government all firearms and ammunition cited in the indictment.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments 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 David P. Rush. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations, IRS–Criminal Investigation, the Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Jasper County Drug Task Force, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Jasper County, Mo., Prosecutor’s Office, the Lawrence County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Lawrence County, Mo., Prosecutor’s Office, the Benton County, Ark., Sheriff’s Department, and the Benton County, Ark., Prosecutor’s Office.

Arkansas Man Charged with Armed Bank Robbery

SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Fort Smith, Arkansas man was charged in federal court today with the armed robbery of Great Southern Bank in Joplin, Missouri.

Robert Bruce Knepper, 45, of Fort Smith, was charged with bank robbery in a federal criminal complaint that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Missouri. Knepper allegedly stole $404,350 at gunpoint from Great Southern Bank on Sept. 16, 2010.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Knepper entered Great Southern Bank,

1232 S. Range Line Rd., Joplin

, at 5 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2010. Knepper allegedly brandished a handgun, climbed over the teller counter, and ordered the bank employees to the floor. He then ordered the tellers to open the bank vault, the affidavit says, and placed money from the vault in a soft shell cooler. He allegedly removed money from some of the teller drawers as well.

On Feb. 13, 2011, a bag containing a handgun was found behind a Red Lobster restaurant in Fort Smith. Police officers also found $166,000 in the bag, along with various hotel and car rental receipts. The receipts led officers to Knepper, who was staying at a Comfort Inn in Fort Smith, and he was arrested.

Phillips 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 Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Joplin, Missouri, Police Department and the Fort Smith, Arkansas, Police Department.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Former Police Officer Sentenced for Producing Child Pornography

SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former Noel, Mo., police officer was sentenced in federal court today for sexually exploiting a child and for possessing child pornography.

Casey Nanez, 28, of Noel, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

Nanez, formerly a police officer for the city of Noel, pleaded guilty to the federal indictment on Sept. 2, 2010.

The McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department seized Nanez’s computer in June 2009 during an investigation into allegations that he had unlawful sexual contact with one or more minors. During a forensic examination of the computer, investigators located several photographs of minors, including a set of photographs that depicted a minor engaged in sexual activity with an adult. Nanez admitted that he took those photographs and downloaded them to his computer.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.