An economist on leave from the federal agency that insures bank deposits was indicted Tuesday for allegedly attempting to rob a bank in Independence, Mo., last month.
Jeff W. Walser, 51, worked as regional economist for the Kansas City office of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which protects bank depositors against losses, though not those from robbery. He was on leave at the time of the robbery and will remain on leave until his case his is resolved, said FDIC spokesman Andrew Gray.
Federal court records painted this picture of the robbery attempt:
Walser allegedly entered the Bank of America branch at 18820 East U.S. 40 on April 11, told an employee that he had a bomb and demanded cash. But when the employee returned with more than $41,000 stuffed into two cash bags, Walser did not move to take them.
Finally the employee asked, "Do we need to talk?"
"Yes," Walser reportedly replied.
The two walked to an empty conference room where Walser reportedly opened his briefcase and showed that he didn’t really have a bomb.
The employee asked whether everything was OK.
"No, everything is not OK," Walser said, and then asked the employee to call police.
Walser surrendered peacefully and is being held without bond.
Read more at KansasCity.com