Resident of Columbus Halfway House Charged in Two Bank Robberies

Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Cincinnati Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Ohio, announced that Joshua Beall, age 23, who most recently resided at Alvis House, a Columbus halfway house, has been charged in a federal complaint with two counts of violating Title 18, U.S. Code Section 2113(a), bank robbery. Each count carries a maximum punishment of 20 years’ imprisonment.

Beall was arrested on December 23, 2011 by an officer of the Riverside, Ohio Police Department at his mother’s residence at Riverside. He was held for violation of the terms of his parole until December 30 when he was arrested on the charges contained in this complaint. Beall received an Initial Appearance in U.S. Magistrate’s Court in Dayton this afternoon and was ordered held pending further proceedings.

The complaint alleges that on November 17, 2011 Beall, wearing a black dreadlocks wig and dark sunglasses and utilizing a demand note, robbed the First Financial Bank, 6325 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights, Ohio of an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency. The complaint also alleges that Beall’s brother, R.L. Beall of Riverside, Ohio, cased the bank by entering it shortly before the robbery and inquiring about opening an account. R.L. Beall has not been charged in this matter at this time. The complaint further alleges that on December 19, 2011 Beall, wearing another black wig, and again utilizing a demand note, robbed the U.S. Bank, 1220 Columbus Avenue, Washington Courthouse, Ohio of approximately $7,200.

Beall was arrested after Alvis House personnel contacted the Columbus FBI Office on December 23, 2011 upon seeing news reports which depicted surveillance photos from the two bank robberies. Investigation led to Beall’s arrest that same day.

SAC Hanko and U.S. Attorney Stewart commended Alvis House personnel for contacting the FBI. They also thanked news media organizations which publicized the surveillance photographs. In addition the Huber Heights, Washington Courthouse, West Chester, Kettering, Springfield, and Riverside Police Departments provided invaluable assistance during the investigation.

The investigation is continuing in this matter.

The public is reminded that criminal complaints contain only allegations of criminal misconduct and that a defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.