Woman Sentenced for Her Role in Hold-Up of Citizens Bank in Hutchinson

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 26-year-old woman was sentenced for her role in the robbery of the Citizens Bank in Hutchinson, Minnesota. United States District Court Judge David S. Doty sentenced Erica Lea Reeves, no known residence, to 19 months in federal prison on one count of aiding and abetting bank robbery. Reeves was indicted along with a co-defendant on August 22, 2012. She pleaded guilty on November 7, 2012.

In her plea agreement, Reeves admitted that on July 17, 2012, she and her co-defendant stole $5,770 from Citizens Bank, located at 1390 Highway 15 South, in Hutchinson. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, Reeves’ co-defendant, Eric Andrew Ebbers, age 25, no known address, presented a bank teller with a note demanding money and warning that he had a gun. After taking the money provided, Ebbers ran to a waiting car driven by Reeves. Police tried to stop the vehicle, but the car sped away. With officers in pursuit, the car exceeded 100 mph, wove through traffic, and avoided a police roadblock. When the car was finally disabled, Reeves was arrested, while Ebbers fled on foot into a cornfield. He was apprehended the following day.

On February 14, 2013, Ebbers was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison on one count of aiding and abetting bank robbery. He pleaded guilty on September 27, 2012. In his plea agreement, Ebbers also admitted robbing the Alliance Bank in Lake City, Minnesota, and the Key Bank in Gresham, Oregon. In both instances, Ebbers presented tellers with a note demanding money and warning that he had a gun.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.