United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

3 ARRESTED ON BANK ROBBERY PLOT

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced today that defendants James Edward Geske, age 27, Kevin Michael Smith, age 37, and Alicia Nichole Frazier, age 25, all from the Arlington, TX area were arrested on November 8, 2006. A federal criminal complaint was filed on Thursday, November 9, 2006 alleging Conspiracy to Commit Bank Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113.

Geske, Smith and Frazier appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Charles Bleil in a Fort Worth, TX, federal courtroom yesterday. Judge Bleil determined probable cause existed and ordered that each defendant remain in federal custody.

United States Attorney, Richard B. Roper said, “This investigation by federal and local law enforcement successfully disrupted a dangerous criminal conspiracy before violent acts could be committed. I applaud the efforts by ATF and the Arlington Police Department in bringing these criminals to justice.”

Carl Walker, Fort Worth Resident Agent in Charge, “This is another example of ATF working with local law enforcement in order to combat violent crime and to keep our neighborhoods safe.”

According to the criminal complaint, an Arlington Police Detective met with Geske in an undercover capacity on October 29, 2006 in the Arlington area. During this meeting, and subsequent meetings over the next 10 days, Geske told the undercover officer and an undercover ATF agent, posing as an arms dealer, that he was interested in acquiring firearms and C4 explosives. Geske wanted the weapons in order to explode fifteen Hamilton County Sheriff’s vehicles, and to conduct three bank robberies in Hamilton immediately after the explosions.

On November 4, 2006, the undercover Arlington officer, the undercover ATF agent, and Geske traveled to Hamilton, Texas to conduct surveillance of the three area banks which Geske wanted to rob. Geske also showed the officers the location of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and a nearby lake where the getaway vehicle would be disposed.

On November 7, 2006, the two undercover officers again met with Geske and two others, including defendant Smith, at a Fort Worth hotel. During this planning meeting, Geske and Smith ordered C4 explosives and firearms, including a fully automatic AK-47, from the undercover ATF agent. Smith told the undercover officers that his girlfriend, Frazier, would also be included in the bank robberies. Later, the undercover ATF agent spoke with Frazier by phone regarding her involvement in the bank robberies. Frazier ordered two pistols equipped with silencers.

On November 8, 2006, the undercover officers met with the three defendants, Geske, Smith, and Frazier, at a hotel in Arlington to plan the bank robberies and exchange the firearms and explosives for methamphetamine. Geske provided one pound of purported methamphetamine and he took possession of the C4 explosives and firearms the three had requested. The three were arrested without incident.

The details contained in the complaint are accusations and the defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper praised the excellent investigative efforts of the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Arlington Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bret Helmer.

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