Sugar Creek man pleads guilty to bank robbery

Raymond F. Paris, 71, of Sugar Creek, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to the charge contained in a July 18 federal indictment.

By pleading guilty, Paris admitted to stealing $8,497 from Metcalf Bank branch at 4668 Blue Ridge Blvd. on July 5.

According to court documents, Paris entered the bank and, while he was standing at the teller counter, pulled a mask (a nylon stocking with holes) over his face.

Paris approached the teller counter and pulled two large manila folders from under his shirt.

He handed one of the folders to the teller in front of him and tossed the other folder to another teller, stating, “Why don’t you fill that up.”

When one of the tellers hesitated, Paris said, “What do you think this is?” while he lifted up his shirt.

The teller did not see a gun but assumed there must have been one there. Paris later told law enforcement officers that he had a BB-gun in his waistband.

One of the tellers was able to activate a silent alarm. The tellers put a total of $8,497 in the envelopes and gave them to Paris, who left the bank.

Kansas City police officers located Paris at his residence in Sugar Creek later the same day and surrounded the house.

Paris, who refused to come out of the house, asked for a cigarette and officers placed it on the deck outside. When Paris went to get the cigarette, he was placed into custody.

Under federal statutes, Paris is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the FBI.