The United States Department of Justice
Welcome to the District of KansasFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News releases are available at www.usdoj.gov/usao/ks/press.html
Contact: Jim Cross
PHONE: 316-269-6481
FAX: 316-269-6420
May 6, 2008
57 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ROBBER BANK TELLERS RECOGNIZED WHEN HE WALKED IN THE DOOR
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Thomas G. Crowl, 60, Merriam, Kan., was sentenced Monday to 57 months in federal prison for bank robbery and counterfeiting.
In January, Crowl pleaded guilty to the Oct. 23, 2007, robbery at Bank of the West, 9400 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kan. He also pleaded guilty to possession of counterfeit currency.
“Employees recognized him immediately from photos taken during two other bank robberies,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren. “They activated a silent alarm as soon as he walked in the door.”
In his plea, Crowl admitted he entered the bank and gave a teller a note saying he had a bomb and wanted money. He left the scene driving a minivan. Overland Park Police stopped him shortly after the robbery.
After his arrest, Crowl consented to the search of his apartment, where investigators found $96,133 in counterfeit currency.
Melgren commended the Overland Park Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their work on the case.