Home Chicago Press Releases 2010 Two Charged in Homewood Bank Robbery
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Two Charged in Homewood Bank Robbery

FBI Chicago November 03, 2010
  • Special Agent Garrett Croon (312) 829-1199

Two south suburban residents were charged earlier today with the armed takeover robbery of the U.S. Bank branch, located at 18300 South Kedzie in Homewood late yesterday morning, announced Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Lawrence C. Burnson, Chief of the Homewood, Illinois Police Department (HPD); and Thomas Folliard, Chief of the Hazel Crest, Illinois Police Department (HCPD).

JUSTICE McCALLISTER, age 36, of 3223 Nelson and TIFFANY R. JONES, age 23, of 3630 Maxey Court, both in Robbins, Illinois, were arrested yesterday by officers from the HPD and HCPD who responded to a robbery alarm at the U.S. Bank. The two were taken into custody following a brief foot chase and an exchange of gunfire with responding officers. JONES was wounded during the exchange and remains hospitalized. Both McCALLISTER and JONES were charged in a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of bank robbery, which is a felony offense.

According to the complaint, McCALLISTER and JONES entered the U.S. Bank branch just before 11:30 a.m. They were both wearing black clothes and were armed, McCALLISTER with a handgun and JONES with a submachine gun or assault type weapon. They verbally announced a robbery and initially ordered employees and customers to the floor. One of the robbers, believed to be JONES, struck a female victim in the head with her gun when she failed to comply with the robber’s command.

While one robber stood guard in the lobby, the second got behind the teller’s counter and removed cash from several drawers, placing it into a backpack the he brought with him. The robbers then forced the bank customers and employees into the vault, where they ordered one of the bank employees to fill a second backpack with cash. They then closed the door on the vault, locking the customers and employees inside, and fled the bank. No serious injuries were reported during the robbery.

A bank customer, who was leaving as the robbers forced their way in the front door, was able to escape and call police. Responding officers saw the robbers as they were exiting armed with weapons and carrying the backpacks containing the robbery proceeds. The officers gave chase and were able to apprehend both McCALLISTER and JONES.

A third individual, who was believed to be acting as a lookout and getaway driver, remains at large and is being sought by investigators.

McCALLISTER appeared before Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim earlier today, at which time he was formally charged. McCALLISTER was ordered held without bond pending his next court appearance, which is scheduled for November 8, 2010. Until then, McCALLISTER will be housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago. JONES remains hospitalized and will appear before Judge Kim when her condition improves. If convicted of the charge filed against them, McCALLISTER and JONES face a possible sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration.

In announcing this arrest, Mr. Grant commended the officers from Homewood and Hazel Crest Police Departments, along with officers from other local law enforcement agencies for their efforts in helping to apprehend these two armed robbers. Said Mr. Grant, “The dedication and courage shown by these officers resulted in the arrest of two potentially dangerous bank robbers, and once again highlighted the cooperation between neighboring agencies, which is essential to effective law enforcement.”

Additional information about this and other recent Chicago area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available at the Bandit Tracker website, www.bandittrackerchicago.com.

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.