FBI: Bartlett duo used AK-47 to rob three banks of $150,000
A Bartlett man and woman armed with an AK-47 stole almost $150,000 during a string of bank robberies in Aurora, Gurnee and Ottawa, according to the FBI.
FBI officials announced Thursday the arrests of James D. Williams, 41, and Alexis T. Handelman, 21, in connection with robberies that each occurred 10 days apart in May. A grand jury indicted the duo on charges of bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery in June.
According to the charges, Williams and Handelman robbed the Old Second Bank at 323 E. Norris Drive in Ottawa on May 11, and conspired to commit robberies in connection with that holdup, as well as robberies at Norstate Bank at 5384 Grand Ave. in Gurnee on May 21, and Bank & Trust at 2287 W. Galena Blvd. in Aurora on May 31.
Leading up to the three robberies, Williams stole the AK-47 in March and obtained another firearm in May, according to the charges. He and Handelman are accused of then robbing about $9,365 from the Ottawa bank.
A few days later, Williams rented a blue Nissan Rogue and later replaced its license plates with two license plates he had stolen, according to the charges. Williams and Handelman then robbed the Gurnee bank of about $5,159. They held up the bank wearing red masks and armed with the AK-47, authorities said.
Williams returned the Nissan Rogue to the rental company and rented a black Ford Fusion a day after the robbery, according to the charges. They used the stolen cash a day later to buy a cellphone in Schaumburg, authorities said.
Williams and Handelman then robbed the Aurora bank of about $134,547 on May 31, according to the charges. They returned the car on the same day, authorities said.
Williams was taken into federal custody May 31. Handelman was taken into state custody on unrelated charges on June 18.
If convicted, Williams and Handelman could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison for each charge, authorities said.