North Aurora man charged in Batavia bank robbery

A North Aurora man has been charged in connection with a recent bank robbery in Batavia, the FBI announced Friday.

John L. Fowlers, 35, of the 200 block of Lincoln Way, was arrested late Wednesday in Chicago on one count of armed bank robbery, police said.

Fowlers is accused of robbing Chase Bank, 130 S. Batavia Ave., just after 5 p.m. on May 17. Police said he entered the bank with a plastic shopping bag, announced a robbery and threatened a teller until he was given nearly $3,000, then ran away.

After the robbery, police distributed bank surveillance photos to the media, which generated tips that led to the identification of Fowlers. Police said he also is suspected of robbing the same bank in February, but has not been charged in that case.

"The citizens who called to provide information ... should be commended for their efforts," said Robert Grant, special agent in charge of the FBI's Chicago office, who called the information "invaluable."

Fowlers was being held in the Kane County jail Friday and is scheduled to appear next week in U.S. District Court in Chicago. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, authorities said.