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Press Release

St. Louis Woman Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Federal Prison for Role in Two Bank Robberies

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Illinois

 

Annalise McGhee, 28, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court to 70 months in prison on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Robbery and two counts of Bank Robbery in connection with the robbery of Laclede Community Credit Union in Alton, IL, on February 11, 2013, and the robbery of People’s Bank and Trust in Altamont, IL, on February 26, 2013, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois has announced. Following her prison sentence, McGhee will be on federal supervised release for 3 years. McGhee was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,684. McGhee has been in custody since February 26, 2013.

Documents filed in U.S. District Court establish that on February 11, 2013, McGhee drove her male co-defendant, Altonio Graves, to the Laclede Community Credit Union in Alton, Illinois to commit a robbery. Graves entered the credit union wearing a long black women’s wig, a black hat, and a black trench coat to disguise his appearance. Graves told the teller he had a gun, handed her a plastic grocery bag and a note demanding money. The teller placed $5,684 in the bag and Graves left the credit union with the money. Graves then entered the getaway vehicle being driven by McGhee and the two fled the area and escaped capture at that time.

On February 26, 2013, McGhee drove Graves to the People’s Bank and Trust in Altamont, Illinois to commit a robbery. Graves entered the bank wearing a long black women’s wig, a dark trench coat and a black hat with earflaps to disguise his appearance. Graves handed the teller a plastic grocery bag and a note which stated: "This is a robbery, I have a gun and I will use it." The teller placed $7,390 in the bag and Graves left the bank with the money. Graves then entered the getaway vehicle being driven by McGhee and the two fled the area. Illinois State Police officers located the suspect vehicle on the interstate and attempted a traffic stop. McGhee refused to stop the vehicle and fled from the officers at speeds in excess of 120 mph until she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch. During a search of Graves and the vehicle, officers located the $7,390 in United States currency taken from the bank. Also during the search of the vehicle, officers recovered a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol behind the glove box.

Altonio Graves, 39, of St. Louis, Missouri has also pleaded guilty and was sentenced on April 17, 2015 to 10 years in prison for the two bank robberies.

The case was investigated by the Alton Police Department, Altamont Police Department, the Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers.

Updated May 18, 2015

Topic
Violent Crime