Jason Grace, Credit Union Robbery, Utah 2023

A brazen daylight robbery shook the streets of St. George, Utah, as Jason Grace, 54, stormed into the Mountain America Credit Union (MACU) on July 26, 2023, and made off with $4,400 in cash. According to court documents, Grace handed a teller a note reading, 'this is a robbery,' and demanded $4,400 in lower denominations.

The teller, intimidated by the threat, complied with Grace's demands, handing over ten $100 bills. Grace then fled the scene in a two-door black Chevy Silverado with black rims and a tonneau cover on the bed. St. George Police Department officers and FBI agents quickly responded to the scene, launching an investigation and alerting neighboring law enforcement agencies of the robbery and the suspect's vehicle description.

The next day, Mesquite police officers spotted a matching Chevy Silverado with a Utah plate in the parking lot of the Virgin River Casino. A records check revealed that the vehicle belonged to Grace, and photos confirmed it was the getaway car. Investigators also identified Grace as the suspect by comparing his driver's license photo to surveillance footage from the robbery and photos on social media.

Grace, a guest at the casino, was served a search warrant, and his hotel room and vehicle were searched. Officers found clothing that matched what Grace wore during the robbery. He was arrested and confessed to chewing up the robbery note and spitting it out the window as he drove away. In a bizarre twist, Grace revealed that after obtaining the money, he purchased two money orders, a pool cue he had recently pawned, paid his back rent, and fled to Mesquite with the remainder of the cash.

United States Federal District Court Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby handed down a sentence of 26 months' imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities across the country.

'No individual should be threatened or intimidated at their place of business,' said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins. 'This was not a spontaneous act of violence, but instead something Mr. Grace carefully considered for approximately a week. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners who acted quickly and carefully.'

The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency, St. George Police Department, and the Mesquite Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Burton is prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/utah-man-sentenced-26-months-imprisonment-credit-union-robbery