Woman Pleads Guilty to Robbing a Citizens Bank in Hutchinson

MINNEAPOLIS—Today in federal court, a 26-year-old woman pleaded guilty to robbing a Citizens Bank in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Erica Lea Reeves, residence unknown, pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. Reeves, who was indicted along with a co-defendant on August 22, 2012, entered her plea before United States District Judge David S. Doty.

In her plea agreement, Reeves admitted that on July 17, 2012, she and her co-defendant stole $5,770 from the Citizens Bank at 1390 Highway 15 South in Hutchinson, Minnesota. According to the affidavit filed in the case, Reeves’ co-defendant, Eric Andrew Ebbers, age 25 and residence unknown, presented the Citizens Bank teller with a note demanding money and warning that he had a gun. After taking the money from the teller, Ebbers ran to a waiting car driven by Reeves. An officer with the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office tried to stop the vehicle, but the car sped away. Law enforcement pursued the car along a Minnesota state highway. During the chase, the car exceeded 100 miles per hour, wove around traffic, and passed a police roadblock. When the car was finally disabled, Ebbers fled on foot into a cornfield, and Reeves was arrested. Ebbers was apprehended the next day.

In a plea hearing on September 27, 2012, Ebbers also admitted that he robbed an Alliance Bank in Lake City, Minnesota, and a Key Bank in Gresham, Oregon. In both instances, Ebbers presented tellers with a note demanding money and warning that he had a gun.

For their crimes, Reeves and Ebbers face a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Judge Doty will determine their sentences at future hearings, not yet scheduled.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.