Independence Man Indicted for Armed Bank Robbery, Carjacking

U.S. Attorney’s Office
6 January 2015

KANSAS CITY, MO—Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Independence, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for the armed robbery of a bank and for stealing a bank employee’s vehicle at gunpoint.

Robert W. Cass, 59, of Independence, was charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Cass on Dec. 22, 2014.

Today’s indictment alleges that Cass used a Glock 9mm pistol to steal $7,594 from Arvest Bank, 4340 S. Noland Rd., Independence on Dec. 19, 2014. The indictment also alleges that Cass also used the Glock 9mm pistol to steal a Dodge Durango from a bank employee.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Cass was wearing a mask when he walked into Arvest Bank at approximately 10:44 a.m. on Dec. 19, 2014. One of the bank employees asked him to uncover his face, the affidavit says, at which time he pointed a gun at her and said, “Give me all of your money.” Cass allegedly took the money and placed it into a bag that he brought with him. Cass then pointed the gun at another bank employee, according to the affidavit, and demanded the keys to her vehicle. She gave him the keys to her 2007 Dodge Durango and he left the bank.

Cass was arrested when Independence police officers spotted the vehicle a few minutes later and stopped it on E. 40 Highway.

Cass is charged with armed bank robbery, brandishing a firearm in relation to an armed bank robbery, carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a carjacking.

Dickinson 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 Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the FBI and the Independence, Mo., Police Department.