St. Louis Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery
Was Wearing Polka Dot Dress and Wig During Robbery

Arnell L. Edwards, 50, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced in federal district court in East St. Louis today for bank robbery, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

Edwards was sentenced to 52 months in prison and three years’ supervised release and was ordered to pay $1,547 restitution and a $100 special assessment. Edwards pled guilty on November 19, 2013, to charges stemming from a September 6, 2013 bank robbery at U.S. Bank in New Athens, Illinois. Edwards entered the bank wearing a polka dot dress, wig, and sunglasses. He then placed a rag over his mouth and approached a bank teller, showing her hand written instructions on a small piece of red paper reading “stick up all money,” and he stated, “Give me all the money.” Edwards grabbed the cash, exited the bank, and discarded the clothing before returning to a nearby apartment. A search of the apartment resulted in the discovery of a pad of red Post-It-Notes matching the size, shape, and color of the note given to the bank teller.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.