RESIDENTS OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA INDICTED FOR ARMED BANK ROBBERY, OTHER OFFENSES

Randy G. Massey, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on April 4, 2007, RODNEY MESSIC, age 56, JACOB MESSIC, age 21, and JOHN D. BROWN, age 63, all of Evansville, Indiana, were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, in a four-count Indictment. Both MESSICs and BROWN are charged with two counts of armed bank robbery. Additionally, both MESSICS are charged with two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The offenses occurred on July 20, 2006, and August 23, 2006, in Casey and Elkville, Illinois.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty.

Each armed bank robbery count carries a penalty of up to 25 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of 5 years’ supervised release. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a penalty of 7 years’ imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed. A second or subsequent offense for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a consecutive penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.

The investigation was conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and United States Marshals Service pursuant to their participation in the Jackson County Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Casey Police Department, Owensboro, Kentucky, Police Department, and McCracken County Sheriff’s Department also participated in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.