Bank Robbers Escape From A Chicago Federal Holding Facility

Kenneth Conley and Joseph "Jose" Banks

Two bank robbers being held at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago managed to elude U.S. Marshals by escaping through a 6 feet high by 6 inches wide high rise facility window.

By H. Nelson Goodson

December 19, 2012

Chicago, Illinois - On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI and Chicago Police initiated citywide dragnet to search for two federal inmates that escaped from the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC), 71 W. Van Buran in Chicago. Both Kenneth Conley, 38, and Joseph "Jose" Banks, 37, were convicted for separate bank robberies and are considered armed and dangerous. 

Banks was convicted for stealing $589,000 and was awaiting sentencing scheduled for March 26. Only $56,000 was ever recovered from Banks robbery and authorities believe he has access to half a million dollars. Conley stole $4,000 and was supposed to be sentence on January 10.

Banks and Conley managed to fool the correction facility guards by placing dummies made up of a sheet filled with clothing and created a make shift rope with sheets to climb down a 15 story high rise. They were able to sawed off bars from a window, broke it and then squeezed through a 6 foot high by 6 inches wide window to escape on early Tuesday.

It's the second time, a federal inmate has escaped from the MCC facility.

The fugitives later ended up at Conley's mother home, but were turned away. The mother managed to retrieved a gun from Conley, according to feds.

Both fugitives remained at large, the U.S. Marshals Service reported.