August 5, 2014

Wichita Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery

WICHITA, KS—A Wichita man pleaded guilty Tuesday to bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Craig E. Applebee, 59, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. Charges filed in May in federal court in Wichita alleged that on May 15, 2014, he robbed the Credit Union of America at 212 S. Ridge Road. He gave the teller a note demanding money. After the teller put the money in a white plastic trash bag, Applebee fled the bank.

Police used a GPS tracking device hidden in the money stolen from the bank to locate Applebee’s car. They stopped the car and arrested him in the 3800 block of West Central.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 23. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.