Missouri man sentenced for bank robbery

A Diamond man was sentenced in federal court Sept. 8 for robbing four banks in Missouri and Kansas, according to a news release from Beth Phillips, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Richard Bratt was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole by U.S. District Judge Richard Dorr, the release said.

Bratt pleaded guilty June 3 to using a handgun to rob Commerce Bank branches in Joplin and Webb City and U.S. Bank in Neosho. He also pleaded guilty to a fourth robbery at Commercial Bank in Independence, Kan., which is charged in an indictment from the District of Kansas, the release said.

Bratt stole $12,636 from U.S. Bank in Neosho on Oct. 15, 2009; $11,458 from Commerce Bank in Joplin on Sept. 10, 2009; $9,975 from Commerce Bank in Webb City on June 10, 2009; and $4,597 from Commercial Bank in Independence, Kan., on June 5, 2009, the release said.

Following the U.S. Bank robbery, a Neosho police officer spotted Bratt's vehicle in a nearby Wal-Mart parking lot and arrested him, the release said.

Bratt used a series of masks as disguises in the robberies, the release said.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Bunch and investigated by the FBI, Police departments in Neosho, Joplin and Webb City, and the Newton County Sheriff's Department.[[In-content Ad]]