U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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February 5, 2003 Chicago Man Arrested in $200,000 Joliet Bank Robbery Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and David L. Gerdes, Chief of the Joliet, Illinois Police Department, announced today the arrest of JEFFREY M. WOLAK, age 42, of 847 West Agatite in Chicago. WOLAK was arrested in Joliet yesterday afternoon, without incident, by Officers of the Joliet Police Department, following the robbery of the New Lenox State Bank branch, located at 2251 Route 59 in Joliet. WOLAK will be charged in a criminal complaint filed later today in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of Bank Robbery, which is a felony offense. It is alleged that WOLAK, armed with a handgun, confronted three bank employees who were changing money canisters on two ATM terminals located outside the bank. WOLAK fled with the replacement canisters, which contained $198,120 in cash. An alert customer who was inside the bank, witnessed the robbery and gave chase in his vehicle. He followed WOLAK to a nearby parking lot, where WOLAK changed vehicles and continued with his escape. The witness then flagged down a passing Joliet Patrol Car, and informed the officer of the robbery and his observations. Within 30 minutes, WOLAK was located and arrested by Joliet Police Officers and evidence linking him to the robbery was recovered. In making this announcement, Mr. Kneir wants to commend the courageous actions of the private citizens, whose assistance was invaluable in making this arrest, along the immediate and professional response of the Joliet Police Department. WOLAK is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Ashman at 2:00 PM today, at which time he will be formally charged. If convicted of this offense, WOLAK faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years incarceration. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against WOLAK is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645. |
