NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

BETH PHILLIPS

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov../index.html

MAY 10, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREENE COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY

TO BANK ROBBERY

            SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Greene County, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to robbing Empire Bank in Springfield, Mo.

            Curtis L. Ralls, 44, of Greene County, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. England this morning to the charge contained in an April 7, 2010, federal indictment.

            Ralls entered Empire Bank, 3555 N. Glenstone Ave., in Springfield, at approximately 3:24 p.m. on March 15, 2010. Ralls gave a note to a bank teller that said, “I have a gun! Give me the money.” The teller gave Ralls $1,720 from her teller drawer and Ralls left the bank.

            A description of the vehicle was broadcast and a Greene County Sheriff’s deputy identified a vehicle matching the description. A pursuit ensued, and when the vehicle was stopped, Ralls was arrested. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement officers found the money that had been stolen from Empire Bank.

            Under federal statutes, Ralls is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Bunch. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

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