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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December 6, 2001 U.S. Alleges Perjury in Fatal Attempted Prisoner Escape Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced today the arrest of ROBERT A. BURKE, age 50, a former Chicago resident for perjury in connection with the 1992 fatal attempted escape of a bank robbery defendant in Federal Court in Chicago. BURKE was taken into custody after being charged today in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with perjury before a Federal Grand Jury. The charges announced today are the result of an FBI investigation, along with other agencies including the U.S. Marshal Service, into the July 20th, 1992, attempted escape from the Dirksen Federal Building of alleged serial bank robber Jeffrey Erickson. At the time of the attempted escape, Erickson was on trial in U.S. District Court for a series of armed bank robberies, that occurred in the Chicago suburban area during 1990 and 1991. Dubbed the "Bearded Bandit," Erickson was arrested on December 16, 1991 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Erickson's wife, Jill, fatally shot herself, following a high speed chase and gun battle with FBI Agents, who were attempting to arrest her. On July 20th, 1992, Erickson was among a group of prisoners being returned to the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago by Deputy U.S. Marshals. Using a key that had been smuggled to him, Erickson was able to free himself from his handcuffs and overpower one of the Deputy Marshals assigned to guard him, taking the marshal's firearm. He shot and killed Deputy U.S. Marshal Roy Frakes and attempted to flee from the Dirksen Federal Building. Erickson was confronted by Court Security Officer (CSO) Harry Belluomini in the building's basement, at which time shots were exchanged. Despite being fatally wounded by Erickson, CSO Belluomini shot and wounded the fleeing prisoner. Erickson was found dead on the vehicle ramp leading from the basement, with a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head. The complaint against BURKE alleges that on October 2, 2001, he knowingly and intentionally provided false testimony to a Federal Grand Jury investigating the attempted escape. BURKE allegedly lied about his knowledge of Erickson's escape plan. BURKE is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney Schenkier at 4 p.m. today. 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. |
