SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Joplin, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for attempted bank robbery after she walked up to a bank’s drive-through window and demanded money.

Anna Lee Turner, 50, of Joplin, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Turner on Oct. 11, 2012.

            Today’s indictment alleges that Turner attempted to rob U.S. Bank, 2801 E. 32nd Street, Joplin, on Oct. 5, 2012.

            According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Turner walked up to the bank’s drive-through teller window and placed a plastic bag and a note demanding $100 bills in the teller’s tray. After reading the note, the affidavit says, the teller dropped to the floor and alerted other bank employees. A co-worker activated the bank’s alarm system. Turner was pounding on the glass to get the teller’s attention as the teller was crawling away from the drive-through window, according to the affidavit. Joplin police officers arrived and arrested Turner as she was walking away from the bank.

Ketchmark cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FBI and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department.

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