Former Washburn Football Player Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery

TOPEKA, KS—A former Washburn University football player has pleaded guilty to bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Vershon Moore, 21, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on Aug. 9, 2011, he robbed Envista Credit Union, 2015 Southwest 10th Street, in Topeka.

At about 2:45 p.m. on the day of the robbery, two employees of the credit union stepped outside the building carrying containers of cash to refill a drive-thru ATM. One of the employees was co-defendant Tracie Bacon, 21, of Topeka. Moore pulled up in a white SUV. He was wearing a mask to cover his face and brandishing a handgun. He demanded the money. When they gave him the cash, he drove away.

One of the employees wrote down the tag number of the vehicle Moore was driving, which Moore had borrowed from another person. Investigators learned that Bacon had provided Moore with information about the schedule for putting cash in the ATM and she had sent a text to Moore shortly before the robbery. Investigators recovered the stolen money and a gun from the basement of Bacon’s home.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 21. Moore faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Co-defendant Tracie Bacon is awaiting trial.

Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.