NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
JOHN F. WOOD
Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106
www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html
JUNE 26, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THREE MEN INDICTED FOR ARMED BANK ROBBERIES
Wyatt J. Ellison, 35, of Kansas City, Kan., Luis Rodriguez, 44, and Charles Williams, 44, both of Kansas City, Mo., were charged in a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Wednesday, June 25.
The federal indictment alleges that Ellison, Rodriguez and Williams stole $40,255 from Commerce Bank, 6334 NE Antioch, Gladstone, Mo., on Nov. 24, 2007. They are also charged with stealing $46,854 from First National Bank of Missouri, 10801 E. 23rd St., Independence, on Jan. 12, 2008. And they are charged with stealing $4,573 from US Bank, 11204 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, Mo., on April 1, 2008.
In addition, Ellison is charged with three counts of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Ellison allegedly used a firearm during each of the three armed bank robberies.
Wood cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Y. Tabor. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Gladstone, Mo., Police Department.