James W. Gray II, Bank Robbery, Kentucky 2024

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – James W. Gray II will spend the next five years and three months behind bars for a brazen string of bank robberies stretching across state lines. U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers handed down the 63-month sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release, and an order for Gray to pay $13,326 in restitution.

The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weiser, details a calculated spree that began July 17, 2017, in Franklin, Kentucky. Gray walked into the U.S. Bank on South Main Street and made off with $5,549. The investigation, a joint effort by the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and the Franklin Police Department, quickly expanded beyond Kentucky’s borders.

Just a week later, on July 24, 2017, Gray targeted the TBK Bank in Keenesburg, Colorado, relieving it of $1,716. He didn’t stop there. Three days after that, on July 27th, Gray hit the Bank of the West in Lyons, Colorado, stealing an additional $6,061. The pattern of quick, successive robberies raised red flags and accelerated the multi-state investigation.

Federal authorities pieced together evidence linking Gray to all three heists. While details of the evidence presented at the plea hearing haven’t been fully released, the guilty plea indicates Gray admitted to his involvement in all three robberies. The U.S. Attorney’s office, led by Russell Coleman, presented a solid case, ensuring Gray would face significant consequences for his actions.

The $13,326 in restitution ordered by Judge Stivers represents the total amount stolen from the three banks. While this won’t fully compensate the institutions or any potential victims, it’s a step toward accountability. The sentence sends a clear message: targeting financial institutions and endangering bank employees will not be tolerated.

Gray’s case highlights the collaborative power of federal and local law enforcement. The FBI and U.S. Marshals, working alongside the Franklin, Kentucky Police Department, successfully tracked and apprehended Gray, bringing a swift end to his criminal enterprise. He’ll now have plenty of time to reflect on his choices from a federal prison cell.

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