Omaha Man Convicted of Fort Dodge Bank Robbery

An Omaha, Nebraska man was convicted by a federal jury on February 13, 2014, after a three and one-half-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.

Michael Clayton, age 44, from Omaha, Nebraska, was convicted of one count of bank robbery. The verdict was returned following about five hours of jury deliberations.

The evidence at trial showed that, on February 7, 2013, Clayton robbed the Citizens’ State Bank in Fort Dodge, Iowa, taking $11,284. That day, Clayton asked Christopher Anderson to drive him to a location near the bank and wait for him. Clayton robbed the bank, returned to Anderson’s car with a bag, and urged Anderson to drive away quickly. Anderson drove Clayton to Omaha, Nebraska, in order to help Clayton escape arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment for the Fort Dodge, Iowa robbery. Clayton paid Anderson $1,000 for his role in the offense.

On June 27, 2013, Anderson pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the bank robbery and will appear before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett for sentencing on March 5, 2014. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to $125,000 in fines, a $100 special assessment, and up to five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

Clayton’s sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Clayton remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Clayton faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, the Omaha Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.