Two Independence Men Charged with Bank Robbery

KANSAS CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that two Independence, Missouri, men were charged in federal court today with bank robbery.

Michael Smythe, 49, and Jeremy Bagnell, 35, both of Independence, were charged in a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri.

Smythe and Bagnell allegedly stole $7,343 from Metcalf Bank, 10801 E. 23rd St., Independence, Missouri, on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010.

According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s criminal complaint, Smythe and Bagnell entered the bank at approximately 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010. One of the men approached a teller and placed a demand note, written on a torn piece of notebook paper, on the counter. The second man stood in the area of the vestibule door. After obtaining money from two of the tellers, the affidavit says, the first man took the demand note and they both fled from the bank.

Later the same day, Independence police officers learned that the two men who had robbed the bank were at an Independence residence. When officers responded to that location, they found Smythe, Bagnell and two females inside the house. Smythe and one of the females was hiding in the closet, the affidavit says, and Smythe was sitting on a large amount of money. Officers executed a search warrant at the residence and seized clothing matching the description of that worn by the bank robbers, a demand note and $2,300.

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 Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Davids. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Independence, Missouri., Police Department.