diamond man sentenced for four armed bank robberies in missouri and kansas
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Diamond, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for four bank robberies that occurred in Missouri and Kansas.
Richard Allan Bratt, 58, of Diamond, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr to 10 years and one month in federal prison without parole.
On June 3, 2010, Bratt pleaded guilty to three bank robberies in Missouri. Bratt also pleaded guilty to a fourth bank robbery, which is charged in an indictment from the District of Kansas. Bratt admitted that he used a handgun to rob Commerce Bank in Webb City, Mo., and in Joplin, Mo., U.S. Bank in Neosho, Mo., and Commercial Bank in Independence, Kan.
Bratt stole $12,636 during the robbery of U.S. Bank in Neosho on Oct. 15, 2009. Bratt, wearing a white hockey face mask, entered the bank shortly before noon. He pointed a loaded handgun at a bank employee and ordered her to come out of the room she was in, then approached the teller window. Bratt placed a bag on the counter, pointed the handgun at one of the tellers, and ordered the tellers to give him all their money. Bratt ordered the employees to lie on the floor, then he left the bank.
A Neosho police officer saw Bratt’s vehicle in a nearby Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot a few minutes later and Bratt was arrested.
Bratt stole $11,458 from Commerce Bank in Joplin on Sept. 10, 2009. Bratt, wearing a cat-face mask, entered the bank shortly before 5:30 p.m. He approached a bank employee, displayed a loaded handgun and demanded money from bank employees. Bratt instructed bank employees to lie down on the floor and then left the bank.
Bratt stole $9,975 from Commerce Bank in Webb City on July 10, 2009. Bratt entered the bank at about 3:30 p.m., approached a teller window and displayed a loaded handgun. He demanded money from the tellers, then instructed everyone in the bank to lie down on the floor when he left the bank.
Bratt stole $4,597 from Commercial Bank in Independence on June 5, 2009. When Bratt entered the bank, he approached the teller’s area and stated, “Gimme your money.” He then placed a revolver on the teller’s counter and the teller handed him money.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas C. Bunch. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, police departments in Neosho, Joplin and Webb City, Mo., and the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.