Vandalia, Missouri Man Sentenced to 144 months in Prison for Bank Robbery

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Vandalia, Missouri man, Brian Cook, 59, of the 400 block of West McPike Street, was sentenced on December 21, 2022, to 144 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by three years supervised release, for bank robbery.

At the sentencing hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow, the government presented evidence that Cook pointed what appeared to be a firearm directly at bank tellers to force them to comply with his demands, he then stole $193,000 from the bank vault. After reviewing the evidence, Judge Darrow found that Cook’s use of the weapon during the July 2021 robbery was an appropriate factor to enhance his sentence. At the hearing, Judge Darrow stated that Cook’s actions terrorized the bank employees, and he broke the trust and safety many find in a small-town bank. Judge Darrow also noted the premeditated nature of the offense, as the evidence showed that Cook was researching the Roseville, IL bank and the surrounding area for months prior to the robbery, and that he had an extensive criminal history that included twelve prior convictions for felony theft related offenses over nearly forty years. 

Cook was indicted in May 2022 and pleaded guilty in August 2022. He has been in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since May 2022.

The statutory penalties for bank robbery are up to twenty years imprisonment, not more than $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, Illinois State Police, Hancock County Illinois Sheriff’s Office, Macomb Police Department, Missouri Department of Conservation, Montgomery County Missouri State’s Attorney, Montgomery County Missouri Sheriff’s Office, Warren County Illinois Sheriff’s Office, and the Warren County Illinois State’s Attorney investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joel C. Brakken represented the government in the prosecution.