Man robbed Old Town bank on the same day he got out of federal prison for bank robbery

Career Criminal Walks Free, Robs Bank Again

A notorious career criminal, Major McCoy, made headlines last week when he walked out of the federal correctional center in downtown Chicago after serving a 96-month term for bank robbery. Shockingly, McCoy wasted no time in returning to his criminal ways by robbing another bank the very same afternoon, prosecutors say.

McCoy, 42, allegedly admitted to robbing the PNC Bank at 1231 North Wells Street during an FBI interview. He confessed that he lost $150 of the stolen cash when a crack dealer duped him before the police apprehended him.

A History of Crime

This is not McCoy’s first brush with the law. In January 2019, Chicago police arrested McCoy as he tried to flee in a taxi after robbing the Chase Bank in River North. Witnesses, including two bank tellers, reported that McCoy handed them a note threatening violence and demanding money.

Arresting officers found bundles of cash amounting to about $9,300 in McCoy’s possession, hidden in the leg of his sweatpants. McCoy was also suspected of robbing two other banks around the same time, leading to his 96-month prison sentence.

A Repeat Offender

Last Wednesday, McCoy was released from the Metropolitan Correctional Center and wasted no time in committing another robbery. At around 1:24 p.m., he entered the PNC Bank in Old Town and handed the teller a threatening note demanding money.

The teller complied by giving McCoy five $50 bills marked as “bait money.” McCoy fled the scene, but thanks to Chicago’s surveillance network, police quickly located and arrested him. Two of the bait bills and the robbery note were recovered from McCoy’s possession.

A Pattern of Criminal Behavior

McCoy’s criminal record is extensive, with multiple convictions for various offenses. He was released on parole in 2017 after serving time for burglary, following earlier convictions for armed robbery, shoplifting, and theft.

Despite his long history of crime, McCoy continues to pose a threat to society with his repeated offenses. The swift action of law enforcement in apprehending him again demonstrates their dedication to keeping the community safe.

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