NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

JOHN F. WOOD

FEBRUARY 21, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPRINGFIELD MAN SENTENCED FOR THREE BANK ROBBERIES

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for committing two bank robberies in Springfield and a third bank robbery in Alabama.

Jody Lee Keller, 49, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple this morning to six years and three months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Keller to pay $27,487 in restitution.
On Aug. 27, 2007, Keller pleaded guilty to the charges contained in two separate federal indictments in the Western District of Missouri and in the District of Alabama.

Keller admitted that he stole $10,729 from Guaranty Bank, 1905 W. Kearney St., in Springfield, on Sept. 1, 2006. Keller used a dangerous weapon - an object that appeared to be an explosive device - to assault bank employees. Keller entered Guaranty Bank at about 9:55 a.m. on Sept. 1, 2006, wearing a black stocking cap, black sunglasses, dark-colored bandana, and a long-sleeve shirt with both sleeves partly rolled up to expose a tattoo on his right forearm. Keller displayed a hand-held device, approximately six to eight inches long, with black electrical tape wrapped around it and a watch affixed to it resembling a timer on a bomb. Keller demanded that tellers put money inside a bag, demanding $100 bills and urging the tellers to hurry, then fled the bank in a Chevrolet pick-up truck.

Keller also admitted that he stole $8,400 from Liberty Bank, 2809 E. Sunshine St., in Springfield, on Dec. 14, 2006. Keller used a dangerous weapon - an object that appeared to be a handgun - to assault bank employees. Keller entered Liberty Bank the morning of Dec. 14, 2006, and approached a teller, pointing what appeared to be a large black semi-automatic pistol at her. During the robbery, Keller also pointed the gun at two other employees and a customer who were in the lobby as well. Keller stuffed the bag of money down the front of his pants and fled the bank on foot.

Keller also pleaded guilty to stealing $8,357 from Century Bank, 7875 Moffet Road, Semmes, Ala., on Dec. 20, 2006. During that robbery, Keller pointed what appeared to be a gun at a teller.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas C. Bunch. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at
www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html