January 24, 12

NEWS / Springfield Man Charged with Bank Robbery

SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Springfield, Mo., man has been charged in federal court with robbing the Assemblies of God Credit Union in Springfield.

Paulanthony Rossmann II, 28, of Springfield, was charged with bank robbery in a federal criminal complaint that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. Rossmann was arrested on Saturday and had his initial court appearance today.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Rossmann stole $4,728 from the Assemblies of God Credit Union, 1455 W. Battlefield Rd., on Jan. 17, 2012.

Rossmann allegedly passed a teller a note that said, “This is a robbery and I have gun.” After reading the note, the affidavit says, the teller asked if he was serious and Rossmann replied, “This is not a joke.” The teller took money from her cash drawer and placed it on the counter. Rossmann took the cash and the note, the affidavit says, and left the credit union.

Surveillance photos from the robbery were provided to news outlets in the Springfield area and several tips were called into the Springfield Police Department and the FBI. One caller advised that the backpack carried by the robber was exactly the same as a backpack given away to those who attended a volleyball coaches conference held in Kansas City, Mo., in 2010. The caller, who also attended the conference and received a backpack, said the backpack had a red and blue emblem that was easily identifiable. Another caller identified Rossmann as the man in the bank surveillance photos.

Rossmann’s estranged wife told law enforcement investigators that she had seen the surveillance photos and believed him to be the person in the photos. She told investigators that she recognized the backpack that has been given to Rossman by his former stepfather, who was a volleyball coach. She also said that she and Rossmann did their banking at the credit union. Rossmann’s former stepfather later confirmed that the backpack in the photos was the one he had given to Rossmann.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robyn L. McKee. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

http://www.fbi.gov/kansascity/press-releases/2012/springfield-man-charged-with-bank-robbery