March 8, 2010

KANSAS CITY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY THWARTED BY FBI

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - Paul G. Rayford, 33, Kansas City, Mo., has pleaded 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. He also pleaded guilty to one count of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to a criminal complaint, 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.

Also indicted in the case are Kenneth Rayford, 59, Kansas City, Mo., and Claude White, 30, Kansas City, Mo., who are scheduled for trial April 5, 2010.

Paul G. Rayford is set for sentencing June 1, 2010. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the attempted bank robbery charge and a penalty of not less than five years, consecutive to other sentences, on the firearms charge.

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.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.