Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that today, Arthur W. Bays, 82, of Marion, Illinois, was charged by the United States Attorney in a criminal complaint in United States District Court with one count of bank robbery.

Count 1 of the Complaint charges that on July 26, 2018, in Franklin County, Bays did by force and violence, and by intimidation, take money from the person of another which was in the possession and the care, custody, and control of State Bank of Whittington, located in Benton, Illinois, a financial institution which at the time was insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, all in violation of federal law.

Bays had an initial appearance in United States District Court in Benton, Illinois, on July 27, 2018. The Magistrate Judge released Bays on bond pending further proceedings in this matter.

A Criminal Complaint is a charge filed against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted of Count 1, Bays faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,

Benton Police Department, West City Police Department, West Frankfort Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marion Police Department.