Wanblee Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Bank Robbery, Discharge of Firearm

A South Dakota man is going down for his role in a violent bank robbery that sent shockwaves through the community.

Francis White Lance, 68, of Wanblee, South Dakota, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for Discharge of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, according to the Department of Justice.

The sentencing took place on June 7, 2024, after White Lance pleaded guilty to the charges on March 20, 2024. He was also ordered to pay $100 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The case dates back to November 7, 2022, when White Lance entered the Lakota Federal Credit Union in Kyle, South Dakota, armed with a semi-automatic rifle. He discharged the rifle during the robbery, firing a bullet over the head of one of the tellers.

All but $100 of the money White Lance stole from the credit union was recovered by the FBI following his apprehension.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, citing the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute that mandates the prosecution of certain violent crimes in federal court rather than state court.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth handled the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.

White Lance is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The sentencing comes as a relief to the community, which was shaken by the brazen robbery. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier denounced the “horrible message” White Lance’s actions sent to the community and the damage he inflicted by robbing the credit union.

The case is a stark reminder of the harsh realities of violent crime and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.