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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two Kansas City, Mo., men and a Kansas City, Kan., man have been indicted by a federal grand jury for three armed bank robberies in Gladstone, Mo., Independence, Mo., and Kansas City, Mo.

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. 23^rd 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.

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