GRAND JURY INDICTS DUO INVOLVED IN ATTEMPTED SPRINGBORO BANK ROBBERY
Public Affairs Officer
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CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged Anton Jevon Alexander, 35, of Indianapolis and Anthony Marquette Phillips, 43, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, with attempted armed bank robbery in connection with the April 27th robbery of a Fifth Third bank in the Dayton suburb of Springboro.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati (FBI) and Springboro Police Chief Jeffrey Kruithoff announced the indictment returned today.
According to court documents, two men approached the bank manager as he was entering the building’s rear door at 8:30 in the morning and pushed him inside. One of the men allegedly pointed a firearm at the manager. Springboro police officers received a 911 call and arrived at the bank around 8:40. The would-be robbers attempted to flee when they heard police arriving. The manager escaped safely. The men remained in the bank until approximately 1:30 Friday afternoon when they emerged and were taken into custody.
Attempted armed bank robbery is punishable by up to 25 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.
Alexander and Phillips are scheduled to appear at an arraignment and detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie K. Bowman at 1:30 on May 3 in Cincinnati.
Stewart commended the prompt response and investigation by Springboro police and FBI agents, as well as District Criminal Chief Kenneth L. Parker, who is prosecuting the case. Stewart also commended the cooperative response and investigation by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office -- Tactical Response Unit, Hostage Negotiation Team, the police departments in Miami Township, Franklin, Lebanon, Dayton and Clearcreek Township, the Clearcreek Township Fire Department, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
