Feds Offer $60K For Info Leading To Chicago's Escape Bank Robbers Arrest

Kenneth Conley and Joseph "Jose" Banks

A reward of $60K is being offered for info leading to the capture of two bank robbers that escaped from the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago.

By H. Nelson Goodson

December 20, 2012

Chicago, Illinois - On Wednesday, the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI in a combined efford are offering a reward of $60K for information leading to the arrest of two convicted bank robbers who escaped from the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago. The U.S. Marshals Service offered $10K and the FBI offered $50K for both Kenneth Conley, 38, and Joseph "Jose" Banks, 37, who 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 in twenty years, 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.