Duo Indicted On Federal Charges For Gurnee Bank Robbery

A Bartlett man and woman accused of wielding an AK-47 and holding up Chicago area banks have been indicted in federal court. According to an indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, James D. Williams, 41, and Alexis T. Hanelman, 21, both of Bartlett, were taken into custody in recent weeks and are accused of committing three armed takeover robberies at banks in Aurora, Ottawa and Gurnee over a three-week span in May.

Both are accused of robbing the Old Second Bank, 323 East Norris Drive in Ottawa, on May 11. They are also charged with conspiracy to rob the three banks, including the bank in Ottawa and for their alleged role in the bank robberies at Norstate Bank, 5384 Grand Avenue in Gurnee, on May 21, and Bank & Trust, 2287 West Galena Boulevard in Aurora on May 31.

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According to authorities, William allegedly stole an AK-47 firearm prior to the robberies and rented different vehicles. He is also accused of attaching a stolen license plate to a vehicle he had recently rented.

Authorities said the duo got away with nearly $150,000 during the robberies, stealing $134,547 from the Aurora bank, $9,365 from the Ottawa bank and taking $5,159 during the Gurnee bank robbery, the Daily Herald reports.

Handelman was taken into state custody on unrelated local charges on June 18. His appearance in federal court on the bank robbery charges has not yet been scheduled, according to the news release. Meanwhile, Williams was taken into federal custody on May 31 and appeared in federal court on June 19.

If convicted, both Williams and Handelman faces up to 20 years in prison on each count.

Photo credit: FBI

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