WACO, TX—A federal criminal complaint was unsealed yesterday charging a 44-year-old Killeeen man with robbing the First National Bank in Killeen last month, announced United States Attorney John F. Bash and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

The complaint alleges John Russell Lightner forcibly robbed the First National Bank located at the 4300 block of Central Texas Expressway in Killeen on or about April 5, 2018. The complaint further states the defendant walked into the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money. The teller then complied and gave the man an undisclosed amount of money. A Crime Stoppers tip from the public led investigators to Lightner.

The defendant had his initial appearance yesterday in federal court in Waco. He remains in federal custody pending his detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey C. Manske, which is scheduled for May 22, 2018. Upon conviction of the charges, Lightner faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI, with assistance from Killeen Police Department and the Harker Heights Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Gloff ­­­­­­­is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.