U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Texas:
BEAUMONT (KYTX) – A 46-year-old Daisetta, Texas man has pleaded guilty to bank robbery charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
John Steven Stark pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn.
According to information presented in court, on Jan. 30, 2012, Stark entered the Bank of America at 2625 Calder in Beaumont and handed a teller a note stating, "This is a bank robbery." The teller complied with the demands of the note and provided the man with the cash from her teller drawer totaling $3,338.00.
On Feb. 2, 2012, Stark robbed the Comerica Bank branch office located at 3135 Southwest Freeway in Houston. Stark used a note which he handed to a bank teller before making off with $2,632.00.
Surveillance video captured several images of the man during the robberies, which was then circulated by broadcast news. The man was identified as Stark and he was arrested on Feb. 8, 2012 in Beaumont following a third bank robbery.
Stark faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, the Beaumont Police Department, the Houston Police Department and the Daisetta Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Craft.
