Lubbock Man Charged in Federal Complaint with Robbing Credit Union

LUBBOCK, TX—Jeffrey Hensley, 42, of Lubbock, Texas, was arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with robbing the Alliance Federal Credit Union in Lubbock. Hensley is set for an initial appearance tomorrow morning in Amarillo, Texas, before United States Magistrate Judge Clinton Averitte. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to the complaint filed, on September 14, 2012, Hensley entered the First United Bank in Lubbock and presented a note to the teller that stated, “Don’t make me show my weapon.” The teller gave the money to Hensley, who put the money in a black bank bag, and he exited the bank.

On December 8, 2012, Hensley entered the Plains Capital Bank in Lubbock and walked up to the teller carrying a dark-colored bank bag. He handed the teller a note that stated, “Fill the bag with all the money in the drawer—if I have to show my weapon I will use it—you have 15 seconds.” The teller handed Hensley a stack of bills, and he took the cash and exited the bank.

On February 13, 2013, Hensley entered the Alliance Federal Credit Union in Lubbock, walked up to the teller, and handed the teller a note and a pink-colored, small cosmetic bag. The teller handed the bills to Hensley, and he exited the bank. He was observed by a witness driving out of the bank parking lot in a small to mid-sized white sport utility vehicle.

On February 14, 2013, law enforcement authorities received a tip that an individual matching the description of the bank robber was named Jeff and that he lived in an apartment at 1907 66th Street in Lubbock and drove a white sport utility vehicle. Another tip was received on March 6, 2013, from an individual that stated the bank robbery suspect was named Jeffrey and that he drove a white, four-door older model Toyota 4-Runner and lived in a house at 8608 Avenue X. A subsequent investigation revealed that Hensley resided in an apartment at 1907 66th Street before moving to 8608 Avenue X. On April 22, 2013, a federal search warrant was executed at Hensley’s residence, and he was arrested. Afterwards, according to the complaint, Hensley admitted to robbing the three banks in Lubbock.

A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. If convicted of this offense, however, Hensley faces a maximum statutory penalty of not more than 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Lubbock Police Department, and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lubbock, Texas, is in charge of the prosecution.