Lebanon Woman Charged with Bank Robbery

Carla R. Walker, 43, of Lebanon, Illinois, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of bank robbery, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. If convicted, Walker faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; not more than three years of supervised release; and a $100 special assessment. Walker appeared in the United States District Court on March 28, 2012 and pleaded not guilty. The United States is seeking that she be held without bond pending trial.

The United States Attorney alleges in the criminal complaint that Walker, wearing bright green flip-flop footwear, entered First Federal Savings Bank around 4:30 p.m. on March 26, 2012. The complaint alleges Walker entered the bank and handed a bank teller a note demanding money. The complaint alleges Walker pulled an apparent handgun out of her bag, pointed the gun at the bank teller, and continued demanding money. The complaint further alleges Walker obtained between $14,000 and $16,000 from the teller before ordering the teller on the ground and warning that someone was outside the bank with a gun aimed at the entrance. The complaint alleges Walker was identified by community members from bank surveillance footage, and a search of Walker’s residence yielded, among other things, a pair of fluorescent green flip-flops in a trash container.

A criminal complaint is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Evidence in support of the indictment was obtained in an investigation by the Lebanon Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case has been assigned to Special Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Snyder for prosecution.