Allen Hanuscak Indicted in Elkhart Bank Heist

A masked, elderly man walked into the Old National Bank at 320 North Main Street in Elkhart, Indiana, on the morning of July 13, 2020, and walked out with $7,000—Allen Hanuscak, 65, now stands accused. According to federal prosecutors, Hanuscak slid a handwritten demand note to a teller at approximately 10:30 a.m., his hand hidden in his pocket in a way that led the teller to believe he was armed. The teller complied, handing over the cash without resistance.

Within minutes of the robbery, law enforcement converged on the area. Officers spotted a suspect matching the description—white male, elderly, wearing glasses, jeans, a mask, and carrying a black backpack—walking near the bank. They stopped him. He identified himself as Allen Hanuscak. A search of his person revealed $6,995 stuffed in his pants. Crucially, the money was still bound with Old National Bank’s distinctive money bands—physical evidence that tied him directly to the crime.

The criminal complaint, approved by Magistrate Judge Joshua P. Kolar on July 14, 2020, laid out the timeline and evidence linking Hanuscak to the robbery. The affidavit filed by investigators highlighted the teller’s account of the suspect’s threatening posture and the near-instantaneous identification of Hanuscak on the street. Surveillance footage, witness statements, and the recovered cash formed the core of the initial case.

Hanuscak, who has ties to both Elkhart, Indiana, and Ohio, was not a free man at the time of the robbery. He was on supervised release from federal courts in Ohio when he allegedly committed the crime—adding a layer of violation to the charges now brought against him. The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury, charges him with one count of bank robbery, a felony that carries severe penalties under federal law.

Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank E. Schaffer, with the case under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Authorities emphasize that while the evidence appears damning, an indictment is not a conviction. Hanuscak is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

If convicted, the judge will determine Hanuscak’s sentence in accordance with federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The outcome could mean years behind bars for the 65-year-old defendant. As the case moves forward, federal prosecutors are building what they call a ‘straightforward, evidence-based’ case—one where the money speaks louder than words.