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Cairo Bank Robbery Case Heats Up
A superseding indictment has been returned against James Nathaniel Watts, 32, of Cairo, IL; Otha D. Watkins, III, 33, of Cairo, IL; and Sharita S. Tipler, 30, of Ullin, IL, in connection with the May 2014 attempted robbery of the First National Bank in Cairo, Illinois.
The attempted robbery, which occurred on May 15, 2014, resulted in the deaths of Anita Grace and Nita Smith, and the critical injury of a third bank employee. Watts, who has been in custody since May 15, 2014, is charged with attempted armed bank robbery resulting in death (Count 1), as well as being a convicted felon in possession of a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol (Count 2).
Watkins is charged with aiding and abetting Watts in the attempted armed bank robbery (Count 3), making a materially false statement to a Special Agent of the FBI (Count 4), being a convicted felon in possession of a Ruger 9mm pistol (Count 5), and conspiring to commit robbery (Count 6). Tipler is charged with disposing of a firearm to Watkins, knowing that he was a convicted felon (Count 7).
Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. If convicted, Watts could face the death penalty or a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Watkins and Tipler face various penalties, including up to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed in the future.
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced the superseding indictment, stating that the case highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for violent crimes. The community is urged to come forward with any information that may aid in the investigation.
A trial date has not been set, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Violent Crime|Bank Robbery|Cairo, IL
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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