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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January 2, 2001 SERIAL BANK ROBBER ARRESTED Kathleen L. McChesney, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of LAWRENCE S. CRAVENS, age 38, of 1244 South Mackinaw, Chicago, Illinois. CRAVENS was arrested by FBI Agents earlier today, without incident, following the robbery of the Old Kent Bank branch located at 222 Merchandise Mart in Chicago. According to witnesses, CRAVENS entered the bank and approached a teller, handing her a note demanding money. His note implied that he was armed, though no weapon was displayed. After receiving an undetermined amount of cash, CRAVENS attempted to flee. Bank security personnel noticed the robbery and were able to detain CRAVENS before he could escape. No weapons were discovered on CRAVENS and no injuries were reported during the robbery. CRAVENS was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago last week, with the December 28th robbery of the Manufacturers Bank branch located at 17130 Torrence Avenue, Lansing, Illinois. CRAVENS will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Geraldine Soat Brown, later today, for both robberies. CRAVENS is also a suspect in as many as four other robberies of Chicago area banks, dating to early November 2000. 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. |
