Husband and Wife Bank Robbers Sentenced to Federal Prison
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 17, 2013 |
A husband and wife have been sentenced to federal prison April 17, 2013, for their roles in a bank robbing conspiracy that included four banks.
Jeffrey Alan Schoon, age 48, of Pocahontas, Iowa, received his prison term after a December 20, 2012 guilty plea; and Roxena Lee Schoon, age 40, formerly of Wall Lake, Iowa, received her prison term after a December 13, 2012 guilty plea. Jeffrey Schoon pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank robberies, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a vrime of violence, and four counts of bank robbery. Roxena Lee Schoon pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank robberies.
Information presented by the United States at their change of plea and sentencing hearings revealed that during the conspiracy, Roxena Lee Schoon, along with her husband Jeffrey Alan Schoon, surveilled and robbed four banks that were each within 20 miles of their Wall Lake, Iowa home.
On or about December 29, 2011, they robbed the Iowa State Bank in Odebolt, Iowa. On or about January 11, 2012, they robbed the Citizens 1st National Bank in Early, Iowa. On or about January 28, 2012, they robbed the Westside State Bank in Vail, Iowa. On or about March 23, 2012, they robbed the Heritage Bank in Lytton, Iowa. Jeffrey Schoon actually entered each bank, while Roxena waited outside as the getaway driver.
In furtherance of their conspiracy to commit bank robbery, the couple possessed a .38 revolver and ammunition for the firearm. During the conspiracy defendant Roxena Lee Schoon and Jeffery Alan Schoon also appeared to possess a Molotov Cocktail during the Vail robbery and a second handgun during the Odebolt robbery. These weapons, if they existed, were never recovered.
On or about March 29, 2012, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the couples home and discovered a blue bag, gloves, a hooded sweatshirt, masks, sunglasses, and blue jeans consistent with those used in the robberies; a $20 bill from one of the victim banks; a .22 caliber rifle; a .38 revolver; and ammunition for the firearms.
Jeffrey Schoon and Roxena Schoon were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett. Jeffrey Schoon was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment, and Roxena Schoon was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. Jeffrey was ordered to pay a $600 special assessment, and Roxena was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Jeffrey and Roxena were ordered to make $32,825 in restitution. Jeffrey must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after prison. Roxena must also serve a three-year term of supervised after prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Both are being held in the United States Marshals’ custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by special agents and analysts of the United States Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; special agents, analysts, and troopers of the Iowa Department of Public Safety; the sheriffs and deputies of the Carroll, Crawford, Pocahontas, and Sac County Sheriffs’ Offices; officers of the Denison and Storm Lake Police Departments; members of the Iowa Law Enforcement Intelligence Network; and the Sac and Crawford County Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.