Alleged Altamont Bank Robbers to be Prosecuted by Feds

The two suspects in the holdup of an Altamont bank earlier this year will be prosecuted at the Federal level.

Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler Friday said Altonio Graves and Annalise McGhee have been charged with federal counts of bank robbery and aiding and abetting a bank robbery.  Kibler said the two are not only wanted for the Altamont holdup but also for a similar offense in Alton, so consolidating the cases at the federal level was an option.

Kibler said another consideration was the approaching speedy trial deadline for the case at the local level.

Authorities allege Graves entered People's Bank and Trust in Altamont on February 26 and gave a teller a note stating, "This is a robbery, I have a gun and I will use it."  After the teller put almost $8,000 in a bag produced by the robber, the suspect left the bank and got into a car driven by McGhee.  Video surveillance recordings made at Altamont Grade School, a block away from the bank, show the suspect vehicle going by the school and bank a number of times around the time of the holdup.

About 20 minutes after the holdup, State Police troopers spotted the vehicle headed west on I-70 and began pursuit.  The pursuit reached speeds of approximately 120MPH.  The car was eventually stopped and Graves and McGhee were taken into custody.  A handgun was found in the vehicle.

No shots were fired in the holdup and no one was injured.