Three Arrested in Oak Lawn Bank Robbery

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and William Villanova, Chief of the Oak Lawn Police Department (OLPD) announced today the arrest of three Chicago men in connection with the January 2 armed robbery of the TCF Bank branch located at 9801 South Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn.

All three men, identified as BENJAMIN WILLIAMS, age 22; MATTHEW D. CASEY, age 19; and CHARLES L. LEWIS, age 24, were each charged in a criminal complaint filed earlier this week in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one (1) count of bank robbery, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, WILLIAMS entered the bank and approached a teller, handing her a note announcing a robbery. WILLIAMS then orally announced a robbery and threatened the bank employee with harm, if his demands for cash were not met. No weapon was displayed during the robbery and no injuries were reported.

After receiving approximately $2,900 in cash, WILLIAMS fled the bank and entered a waiting vehicle that was driven by LEWIS and occupied by CASEY. Responding officers from the OLPD obtained a description of the robber and get-away vehicle, which they spotted a short time later. After stopping the car, officers noticed a large sum of cash scattered on the floor and back seat of the vehicle. All three men were taken into custody at the scene.

Subsequent investigation by the FBI and OLPD developed additional evidence, leading to the filing of the criminal charges announced today.

In announcing these charges, Mr. Grant praised the arresting officers for their prompt response to an emergency service call, which led to the quick apprehension of three armed robbery suspects. Said Mr. Grant, “With the assistance and cooperation of our local law enforcement partners, as evidenced by the arrests announced today, we are able to more effectively serve the public and help insure their continued safety.”

All three defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney I. Schenkier in Chicago on Monday, at which time they were formally charged. All three were ordered held without bond, pending their next scheduled court appearance, and face a possible sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration if convicted of the charges filed against them.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.