Bank Robber Confesses After Smoking Cigarette: FBI

MATTESON, IL — A Chicago man confessed to robbing a bank after FBI agents let him smoke a cigarette, according to a federal complaint. Darrick Ross, 46, was charged with one count of bank robbery for the 2019 heist of the US Bank branch in Matteson.

Ross was arrested April 1 for an unrelated outstanding warrant out of Cook County Circuit Court and was taken to the Evergreen Park Police Department, the feds said. Ross was interviewed there about the bank robbery in Matteson.

Law enforcement officers alleged that during the late afternoon of July 15, 2019, Ross was captured on surveillance video walking into the US Bank at 4350 Lincoln Highway, where he walked up to the teller window. According to the complaint, Ross slipped a note through the teller window, which read: “Remain calm. Give me 100s and 50s.” The FBI said Ross kept his hand on a bag that he wore over his shoulder.

The teller gave the alleged robber, later identified as Ross, all the money in her drawer, amounting to $2,007. The FBI said Ross left the bank with the money and his note. The suspect was described as a black male in his thirties, about 6 feet tall with an average build. He wore a dark baseball cap, sunglasses, and a black shirt with gray and white lettering.

On July 20, 2019, law enforcement arrested another man, David Jennings, after he tried to rob the Town Center Bank in Frankfort, the complaint said. The following November, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Jennings with multiple bank robberies.

Law enforcement seized Jennings’ cell phone in which Ross’s name appeared in the contacts. The complaint stated that federal agents discovered that the subscriber open the account for the phone three hours after the Matteson bank was robbed. The account was eventually canceled on Aug. 26, 2020.

The US Bank teller picked Ross out of a photo lineup on the second try, stating that she was “80 percent certain” that the person in the photo was Ross, the feds said. The FBI had also contacted the owner of the phone, who stated that Ross was a family friend, but did not remember giving Ross the phone.

While at the Evergreen Park police station, the FBI asked Ross about the Matteson bank robber. Ross denied being involved, and he wouldn’t answer any more questions.

“We waited two years to make sure that we had everything lined up,” the FBI agent told Ross. “We wanted to make sure 100% that it was you in the picture. We didn’t come out of just no where. That’s why we waited.”

The feds said Ross refused to answer any more questions. He allegedly denied knowing the owner of the phone and accused his interviewers of lying.

According to the complaint, the law enforcement officer told Ross to “sit and think it about it awhile,” while he called the U.S. district attorney. Ross wanted to know his options and requested a cigarette.

“This is not a violent crime. That’s the only reason why we wanted to sit down and talk to you like a man.” the feds said in the complaint.

The law enforcement officer told Ross that he would get his cigarette whether he talked to them or not. Ross allegedly continued to deny robbing the bank or knowing the phone owner.

Ross was taken outside the police station to have a smoke. After the FBI escorted him back to the interview room. Ross admitted to robbing the US Bank and identified himself in the surveillance photos, the complaint said.

He further confessed to two banks being robbed on July 15, 2019, the feds said. Ross told law enforcement officers that he and Jennings had gone in Jennings’ car. Jennings robbed the first bank while Ross waited in the car, according to the complaint.

The feds said that Ross couldn’t remember the name of the bank that Jennings robbed, except that it was somewhere in the suburbs. The complaint stated that Jennings was eventually charged with the July 15, 2019 robbery of the First Secure Bank in Oak Forest.

After Jennings robbed the first bank, they drove to the US Bank branch in Matteson. Jennings is said to have told Ross to go into the bank and present the note. Following the purported bank robbery, Ross walked out with the money, which he gave to Jennings. The complaint further stated that Jennings gave Ross half the money. Ross said that Jennings tried to get him to rob another bank, but Ross declined.