ST. LOUIS – A brazen inside job at a Wellston, Missouri bank landed former assistant manager Capri Duvall, 35, of St. Louis, a year and a day in federal prison Tuesday. Duvall orchestrated the theft of $284,000 in cash, exploiting her position to line her pockets before vanishing with her children.
The scheme unfolded on July 19, 2021, when Duvall feigned restocking an ATM. Instead of filling the machine, she concealed $284,000 in a brown box and smuggled it out to her car. She didn’t act alone. According to court documents, Duvall immediately divvied up the stolen funds with two co-conspirators: teller Chloe Anderson, 23, of St. Louis, and security guard Mariah Barnes, 30, of Cahokia Heights, Illinois, each receiving $30,000.
Duvall attempted to cover her tracks, resigning from her post at 12:57 a.m. the following day. But the theft quickly came to light, triggering a multi-month manhunt. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Dowd III told the court that locating Duvall and her three children proved a significant challenge for investigators.
Duvall ultimately pleaded guilty in May to one count of aiding and abetting in the embezzlement of bank funds by an employee. Judge Ronnie L. White not only sentenced her to prison but also ordered her to repay the full $284,000. The FBI and U.S. Secret Service jointly investigated the case, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to tackling financial crimes.
The web of deceit doesn’t end with Duvall. Mariah Barnes pleaded guilty in June to the same charge and is slated to be sentenced on October 4th. Chloe Anderson followed suit, entering a guilty plea later Tuesday, after Duvall’s sentencing, and will face judgment on November 16th. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Dowd III is prosecuting the case.
This case serves as a stark reminder that even those entrusted with financial responsibility can succumb to greed. The Secret Service and the FBI are continuing to investigate potential links to other fraudulent activity. The investigation is ongoing.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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