Reward for Information on Kidnapping and Extortion Subjects
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the identification and arrests of the subjects of these investigations. The FBI, along with the Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oak Ridge Police Department, are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying and locating individuals responsible for the kidnapping and extortion involving the Y-12 Federal Credit Union and the kidnapping and extortion involving the SmartBank.
On April 28, 2015, at approximately 8:15 a.m., a Y-12 Federal Credit Union employee and his family were kidnapped from their residence and held hostage at gunpoint. While the family was held hostage, the employee was coerced to attempt to remove money from the Y-12 Federal Credit Union located at 501 Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. After the robbery, the employee’s family members were released unharmed at the Gettysvue Country Club parking lot in Knoxville, Tennessee. The suspects fled and remain at large.
On Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at approximately 8:00 a.m, a SmartBank employee and his family were kidnapped from their residence and held hostage at gunpoint. The employee and his family were taken to the SmartBank located at 202 Advantage Place, Knoxville, Tennessee. While at the bank, the employee was coerced to remove an undisclosed amount of money, which was provided to the robbers. The employee was then left at the bank, and his family was released unharmed a short time later at the end of Pipkin Lane in West Knox County. The suspects fled and remain at large. The subjects are described as:
| Male Subject A | Male Subject B |
| White | White |
| Late 20s to mid-30s | Possibly mid-30s |
| Possibly salt/pepper hair | Shaved head |
| Tattoo on neck with orange ink | 5’10” to 6’ tall |
| 5’11” to 6’03” tall | 200 to 220 pounds |
| 160 pounds | Stocky build |
| Lean build | Black face mask |
| Black clothing | Dark baseball hat |
| Black face mask | Dark pants and shirt |
| Dark baseball hat | Dark sunglasses |
| Dark sunglasses |
The investigative agencies are exploring the possibility that these two events are related, based on similar subject descriptions and a similar method of operation.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), and the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, as well as the KPD Violent Crimes Unit, the KCSO Major Crimes Unit, and the Oak Ridge Police Department.
Anyone with information that may lead to the identification and/or location of the above subjects should contact the Knoxville FBI Office at 865-544-0751.
