Volo woman pleads guilty in bank robberies

A Volo woman has admitted in federal court that she robbed banks in Crystal Lake and Grayslake, and tried to rob a bank in Johnsburg in March, authorities said.

Teresa Knowles, 39, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, authorities said. She faces a maximum of 60 years in prison, authorities said, and is due to be sentenced Feb. 4.

Knowles entered the Crystal Lake Chase Bank on March 21 and passed a note to a teller that demanded $10,000, authorities said. The teller handed her $400, but Knowles told her it was not enough money. The teller gave her another $2,450 and Knowles left the bank and drove away, authorities said.

Knowles entered the Grayslake Chase Bank on March 24 and handed a similar note to a teller, authorities said. The teller gave Knowles $1,000 in cash, and she left the bank and drove away, authorities said.

Later that day, Knowles drove to the Johnsburg Chase Bank and handed the teller a note demanding money, but the teller refused to give her any cash, authorities said. She left the bank empty-handed, authorities said.

Knowles was taken into custody before March 30 and she was indicted in June, officials said.

In addition to the prison term, Knowles faces three years of probation after her prison sentence, a $250,000 fine, and she is required to pay full restitution to the banks she stole from, authorities said.

The FBI was the lead agency in finding and arresting Knowles, authorities said, with assistance from the Johnsburg, McHenry, Grayslake and Crystal Lake police departments.