Illinois Robber Demands Cash in Seconds, Gets Years in Prison

He demanded $40,000 in 30 seconds from the teller of the Illinois bank he was robbing, but instead it looks like he'll get prison as a jury convicted the man according to the FBI in Chicago.

This status update from the FBI in Chicago on their Facebook page tells part of the story of what a jury just decided about a man who robbed a bank in Illinois.

The press release from the Northern District of Illinois US Attorney's Office fills in the rest of the details. It says that Francisco Martinez, 32, of Des Plaines, Illinois walked into a First Midwest Bank branch in Round Lake, Illinois on December 20, 2021. He approached the teller and handed her a note that read “40k, 30 seconds, no tricks, go now.” He also revealed what looked to be a firearm and made threats to abduct another customer in the bank. A jury in the US District Court of Chicago found Martinez guilty today which means he could face up to 20 years in prison. He'll find out what his fate will be when he's sentenced on August 29, 2025.

This conviction was an effort of cooperation by the FBI in Chicago plus the Round Lake Beach, Illinois Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Their effort along with due process in the court system made sure that this bank robber's demand for fast cash will result in him having plenty of time to think about the error of his ways soon.