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These Elgin State Bank security photos were posted
on the FBI's http://bandittrackerchicago.com website.
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Federal charges were filed Friday against two Batavia men
accused of concealing their faces and brandishing handguns to rob an Elgin bank
on Wednesday evening.
Douglas Kelley, 27, and Lucas G. Marin, 29, both of Batavia,
were each charged with one count of bank robbery, a felony, in a criminal
complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Robert D. Grant, special agent-in-charge of the Chicago
office of the FBI, Elgin Police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda and Batavia Police Chief
Gary J. Schira, announced the charges Friday.
Elgin police arrested Kelley without incident after the stop
of a suspected get-away vehicle shortly after the robbery of Elgin State Bank,
1590 N. McLean Blvd. Batavia police arrested Marin without incident early
Thursday morning after a routine traffic stop.
According to the complaint, Kelley and Marin entered Elgin
State Bank just before 5 p.m. Wednesday. They were armed with handguns, which
later were determined to be pellet guns, and had their faces concealed.
According to authorities, they announced a robbery, demanded
money from several teller drawers and fled on foot with approximately $2,800 in
cash. Included in the money given to the robbers was a security dye pack, which
activated when the robbers exited the bank.
But, authorities said, an alert individual seated in a
vehicle outside saw two people running from the bank and followed them as they
entered a waiting vehicle. The person then contacted Elgin police, providing a
description of the robbers and their get-away car. This description ultimately
led to the identification and arrest of the suspects.
The investigation by the FBI and the Elgin and Batavia
police departments developed additional evidence linking both men to the
robbery and the filing of charges.
The ability of one of the suspects to evade capture after
the robbery prompted Elgin police to issue an alert to the community, advising
residents in the area of McLean and Big Timber Road to lock their doors and
windows and remain inside as officers combed the area for the suspect.
Residents were urged to call 911 if they noticed anything unusual.
The FBI's Grant commended the officers of both police
departments for their efforts in helping to solve the robbery, according to a
release issued by the FBI. Grant also recognized the invaluable assistance by
the witness, whose selfless efforts directly led to the apprehension of two
potentially dangerous robbers.
"The public's cooperation has been a cornerstone of law
enforcement in the United States for over 200 years," he said. "It is
gratifying to see that spirit is alive and well".
Kelley and Marin appeared before Magistrate Judge Morton
Denlow in Chicago earlier Friday afternoon when they formally were charged.
Both were ordered held without bond pending their next scheduled court
appearance.
If convicted, bank robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
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