Greene County Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery
U.S. Attorney’s Office May 10, 2010 |
SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Greene County, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to robbing Empire Bank in Springfield, Missouri.
Curtis L. Ralls, 44, of Greene County, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. England this morning to the charge contained in an April 7, 2010, federal indictment.
Ralls entered Empire Bank, 3555 N. Glenstone Ave., in Springfield, at approximately 3:24 p.m. on March 15, 2010. Ralls gave a note to a bank teller that said, “I have a gun! Give me the money.” The teller gave Ralls $1,720 from her teller drawer and Ralls left the bank.
A description of the vehicle was broadcast and a Greene County Sheriff’s deputy identified a vehicle matching the description. A pursuit ensued, and when the vehicle was stopped, Ralls was arrested. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement officers found the money that had been stolen from Empire Bank.
Under federal statutes, Ralls is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. 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 Doug Bunch. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.