July 28, 2010

KC MAN SENTENCED FOR THWARTED BANK ROBBERY

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - Paul G. Rayford, 33, Kansas City, Mo., has been sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to an attempted bank robbery that was prevented by FBI agents who locked the bank doors to keep the robbers out, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

Rayford pleaded guilty to one count of attempted bank robbery and one count of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Rayford and two other men were under surveillance by the FBI on Oct. 22, 2009, when they attempted to rob Interstate Federal Savings Bank at 1919 N. 78th in Kansas City, Kan. As Rayford and another man approached the bank wearing masks, two agents inside the bank locked the bank doors to keep them out. The three men were arrested as they attempted to leave the bank parking lot.

Co-defendants are Rayford’s father, Kenneth Rayford, who is set for sentencing Sept. 20, 2010, and Claude White, who is set for a hearing Sept. 13, 2010.

Welch commended the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Independence Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.