NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

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 4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KC MAN CHARGED WITH TWO BANK ROBBERIES

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., man has been charged with two bank robberies that occurred within a block of each other last month.

Charles J. Fuentes, 44, of Kansas City, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City on Wednesday, June 3, 2009.

The federal criminal complaint alleges that Fuentes stole $1,600 from Bank Midwest, 6430 N. Cosby, Kansas City, on May 18, 2009. The complaint also alleges that Fuentes stole $1,159 from US Bank, 6405 N. Cosby, Kansas City, on May 29, 2009.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Fuentes ordered the tellers at each of the banks, “Give me all your big bills!” and “Hurry up!” In both cases, the affidavit says, the tellers gave Fuentes money from one of their teller drawers; but, as they were about to open another teller drawer to take out more money, Fuentes turned and walked out of the bank before they could give him the additional money.

When a surveillance photo from the US Bank robbery was published in a local newspaper, a person who recognized Fuentes contacted law enforcement officials to report his identity.

Whitworth cautioned that the charges contained in this complaint 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 David A. Barnes. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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