Dayton man pleads guilty to robbing local bank

DAYTON, Ohio - A Dayton man arrested three hours after he robbed a local bank pleaded guilty to the charge of bank robbery in federal court today.

John Donald Butler, 62, was indicted in the Southern District of Ohio in April. He has more than 20 prior federal bank robbery convictions for robberies he committed in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina.

According to court documents, on March 30, Butler entered the Key Bank on Miamisburg Centerville Road in Dayton at approximately 2:45pm dressed as a construction worker. During the robbery, Butler passed a note to the bank teller and verbally ordered the teller to empty the top drawer, threatening the teller not to include dye packs with the cash. After receiving more than $9,000 in cash, Butler fled the scene.

Law enforcement responded quickly to the scene and obtained security images of Butler, who had nothing covering his face during the robbery. Officials also used license plate readers to track Butler's vehicle before and after the robbery.

Approximately three hours after the robbery, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on Butler and arrested him. Cash, drugs and the robbery note were all subsequently located on Butler's person or in his vehicle.

Bank robbery is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Moraine Police Chief Craig Richardson announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth L. McCormickis representing the United States in this case.

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