Jimmy Eisenhour, Attempted Armed Bank Robbery, Missouri 2016

Attempted Armed Bank Robbery Foiled by Customer in Joplin, Missouri

A brazen attempt at armed robbery at Pinnacle Bank in Joplin, Missouri, ended in failure when a customer struggled with one of the suspects, causing them to flee without taking any money.

Jimmy Eisenhour, 36, of Joplin, pleaded guilty in federal court to aiding and abetting in the attempted armed robbery of Pinnacle Bank, located at 1316 E. 32nd Street, Joplin, on November 14, 2016. Eisenhour also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Co-defendant Sean LaDue, 29, of Joplin, pleaded guilty to the same charges on March 22, 2017. The two men entered the bank at approximately 3:50 p.m. and announced, ‘This is a robbery, get down!’ Eisenhour went behind the bank counter while LaDue stayed near the front of the bank.

During the struggle with the customer, LaDue produced a firearm and fired three shots. Both robbers then fled from the bank without taking any money. Police officers located and arrested both Eisenhour and LaDue two days later, on November 16, 2016.

Under federal statutes, Eisenhour and LaDue are each subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the FBI. The brazen attempt at armed robbery serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilantism and community involvement in preventing crime.

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