U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation

2111 West Roosevelt Road Chicago, Illinois 60608 (312) 421-6700

Chicago FBI Press Office Phone: (312) 829-1199	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2007

Alleged bank Robber Captured during getaway attempt Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and William Villanova, Chief of the Oak Lawn Police Department (OLPD) announced today the arrest of LESTER EPPS, age 54, of 7750 South Emerald Street in Chicago, Illinois. EPPS was arrested on November 7, 2007 by OLPD officers shortly following the robbery of the TCF bank located at 10350 South Pulaski Road in Oak Lawn. EPPS was charged in a criminal complaint filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of Bank Robbery, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, EPPS entered the bank at approximately noon and approached a teller demanding cash and stating that he had a gun in his right pocket. The teller then provided the bank robber with a stack of cash that included an electronic exploding dye pack. The complaint further alleges that EPPS left the bank on foot when the dye pack hidden among the money in his pants pocket exploded with red dye. He withdrew the stack of red-dyed bills from his pocket and threw it on the ground. Moments later, EPPS asked a stranger placing construction equipment into a truck for a ride, and the stranger replied, “I’ll give you a lift.” Upon being notified that the bank had been robbed, the OLPD responded and established a perimeter road block in the vicinity of the bank. As the stranger driving EPPS approached the road block, EPPS allegedly ordered the stranger to get out of the truck. EPPS then slid into the driver’s seat and began to drive toward the OLPD roadblock. The complaint alleges that EPPS unsuccessfully tried to drive around the police cars forming the road block. He then attempted to drive in reverse away from the police, and OLPD officers noticed the red dye covering EPPS’ hands, clothing, and the steering wheel of the truck. The OLPD officers verbally ordered EPPS to stop and get out of the truck. When EPPS was not immediately responsive, an officer broke a window of the truck and subdued EPPS before he could escape. EPPS was immediately arrested by the OLPD and later turned over to FBI custody. According to the complaint, EPPS provided the FBI with a signed written confession admitting his involvement in the bank robbery described above. EPPS appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez yesterday where he was ordered held without bond pending further judicial proceedings. If convicted of the bank robbery charge filed against him, EPPS faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison. In announcing the charges, Mr. Grant wants to publicly commend the OLPD for their prompt response to the emergency call placed by bank employees. “This is a great example of outstanding law enforcement at work. The immediate response by the Oak Lawn officers made the difference in apprehending this suspect before he could escape to potentially commit other bank robberies or acts of violence,” said Mr. Grant. 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 guilt in a court of law. EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.

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