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Inmate who escaped Chicago jail sentenced

A former strip club worker who escaped from a high-rise federal jail in Chicago has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a 2011 bank robbery.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported a federal judge cited Kenneth Conley’s Dec. 18 escape in imposing the maximum term for the bank robbery. He said the escape showed “utter lack of respect for the law.”

The 39-year-old Conley and his cellmate, Jose Banks, scaled down nearly 20 stories using a makeshift rope. Banks was caught two days later, but Conley eluded capture until Jan. 4.

An FBI agent told the judge Wednesday that Conley threatened to escape again after his capture.

Federal rules allowed the judge to factor the escape into sentencing even though Conley is still awaiting trial on the escape charge.

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