Illinois Man Accused of Robbing Bank After Handing Over ID

Criminal complaint claims man inquired about opening a new account before robbing the bank

An Illinois man is accused of stealing about $87,200 from a TCF Bank in Waukegan after handing over his information while inquiring about opening a new bank account.

William Rozelle, 30, of the 2200 block of Kristan Avenue in North Chicago, was charged in a one-count criminal complaint filed Friday morning in U.S. District Court, according to a statement from the FBI.

The complaint claims the suspect, believed to be Rozelle, admitted to entering the bank on the 900 block of North Green Bay Road at about 10:07 a.m. Wednesday and asking about opening the accounts.

A teller discussed options with him in a cubicle area and took his information, including a copy of his ID card and his social security number. He also provided an address that matched his father's home, an FBI agent testified, according to the complaint.

When the teller told the suspect that a $25 fee was required to open the account, he said he needed to get the money from his car. He returned about 10 to 15 minutes later, according to the complaint, and the teller met him in the cubicle area.

An FBI agent testified the suspect said something to the effect of “I’m sorry I have to do this, but this is a robbery" and handed the teller a note that read: “This is a robbery, don’t make a loud noise or scream, I need $75,0001 $150,000 dollars in $50 $20 and $100, no dye pack, do it fast and correct, nobody get hurt, I do have a gun with me, and don’t press no botton [sic].”

He pulled a knife from his hooded sweatshirt and put his left arm around the teller, holding the knife near her abdomen, according to the complaint. He forced the teller and another teller to open the vault.

He then handed them a backpack and told them to put all the cash inside along with the demand note. He told them not to put any dye packs or GPS devices in the bag or he would come back for them. The tellers complied.

That night at about 11:20 p.m. a car driven by Rozelle was stopped by North Chicago Police for suspicious activity. Police found a small amount of marijuana, the robbery note and more than $15,000 in cash, according to the complaint.

The next day Rozelle led police to his father's house in North Chicago, where the backpack and about $69,000 were found, according to the complaint. He also led police to where he discarded the knife, about one block from the bank. The knife was recovered.

Rozelle admitted to the robbery on May 22, according to the complaint.

Copyright CHIST - SunTimes
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