McALLEN, Texas – A 38-year-old resident of Omaha, Nebraska, man has been ordered to federal prison for more than 18 years for his conviction of bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Kenneth S. Jones pleaded guilty Feb. 4, 2019, admitting he entered the Greater State Bank in McAllen and announced “This is a robbery!”

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez found Jones to be a career offender based on this and his other two federal drug trafficking convictions. He received a sentence of 220 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

“This is not a joke,” Jones said as he entered the bank. “Put the money on the counter. If you don’t do it, I’m going to shoot you!” Fearful for their lives, employees handed over approximately $10,000 in U.S. currency and several marked bills. Jones then fled the scene.

Authorities were able to track Jones back to his hotel and arrested him the same day.  A subsequent search of the hotel recovered the money stolen from the bank.

Jones has been in custody since his arrest in where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.  

The McAllen Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Guerra Jr. is prosecuting the case.