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Press Release

Volo, Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty To Robbing Two Chase Bank Branches And Attempting To Rob A Third

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois

ROCKFORD — A Lake County woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to two counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery.  TERESA M. KNOWLES, 39, of Volo, Ill., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala to robbing the Chase Bank, in Crystal Lake, Ill. on March 21, 2015, and the Chase Bank, in Grayslake, Ill. on March 24, 2015, as well as attempting to rob the Chase Bank in Johnsburg, Ill., on March 24, 2015.

According to the written plea agreement, on March 21, 2015, Knowles drove a Nissan SUV to a branch of Chase Bank located in Crystal Lake, Ill.  She entered the bank, approached a teller window and passed the teller a note that demanded $10,000.  The teller first handed Knowles $400.  When Knowles said that was not enough money, the teller then handed Knowles another $2450.  Knowles then left the bank and drove away.

Knowles also admitted in the plea agreement that on March 24, 2015, she drove to a branch of Chase Bank located in Grayslake, Ill.  She entered the bank and handed a teller a note similar to the note Knowles used in robbing the Chase Bank branch in Crystal Lake. The teller handed Knowles $1,000.  Knowles walked out of the Chase Bank with the note and drove away.

In addition, Knowles admitted that on March 24, 2015, she drove to a branch of Chase Bank located in Johnsburg, Ill.  There, she entered the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money.  When the teller refused to hand over any money, Knowles walked out of the Chase Bank and drove away.

Each count of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and full restitution.  The court must impose a reasonable sentence guided by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.  Sentencing for Knowles is set for February 4, 2016, at 2:30 p.m.

The guilty plea was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The Johnsburg Police Department, McHenry Police Department, Grayslake Police Department, and Crystal Lake Police Department assisted in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.

Plea Agreement

Updated February 4, 2016