Higginsville Man Indicted for Bank Robbery
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 29, 2011 |
JEFFERSON CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Higginsville, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for robbing U.S. Bank in Sedalia, Mo.
David Riley Burke, 40, of Higginsville, was charged with bank robbery in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Burke on Sept. 12, 2011.
The indictment alleges that Burke stole $2,622 from U.S. Bank, 116 W. 4th St., Sedalia, on Aug. 29, 2011.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Burke entered the bank at about 1:18 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2011, and waited in the teller line behind another customer. When he approached the teller, Burke allegedly handed her a note that said he had a gun and wanted money. The teller gave Burke the money from her drawer, the affidavit says, which he grabbed and then ran out of the bank.
The bank’s surveillance cameras captured images of Burke, the affidavit says, and a Higginsville, Mo., police officer recognized Burke’s photo in an alert that was distributed to law enforcement agencies. Burke’s mother and former girlfriend confirmed that identification, and Burke’s fingerprint was found on the robbery note that was left behind at the teller’s counter.
According to the affidavit, Burke indicated he was planning to travel to Mexico. A sealed criminal complaint was filed for bank robbery and an arrest warrant was issued for Burke, who was arrested in Texas.
Phillips cautioned that the charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Gonzalez. It was investigated by the FBI, the Sedalia, Mo., Police Department, the Higginsville, Mo., Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.