Woman Says She Was Forced To Help Man Suspected Of Robbing Choctaw Bank

News9.com

CHOCTAW, Oklahoma -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma has filed federal charges against a man accused of pulling out a shotgun and robbing a bank in Choctaw.

Prosecutors say 19-year-old William Shelby Gomez of Newalla walked into Arvest Bank on Monday, June 20. According to the criminal complaint, Gomez handed the teller a pillow case, pointed a shotgun at her and told her to fill the pillow case with money.

Read the criminal complaint against William Gomez

Witnesses told the FBI Gomez took the cash, left the bank and got into a pickup truck. Witness said a second person was in the truck, and the two drove away. Investigators say the two later abandoned the truck and got into a white plumbing van.

Investigators were able to track the van to a business. After questioning the owner, they learned Gomez was also a part-time worker at the plumbing business. They also identified the woman seen getting into the van with Gomez. In the criminal complaint, she's identified only as "A.J."

A.J. told investigators Gomez informed her he was going to rob the bank, then shoved the shotgun into her side and forced her to go with him to the bank. According to court documents, Gomez told A.J. if she drove away from the bank and left without him, he would go to her parents' home and harm them.

Gomez turned himself in the day after the robbery. He appeared Wednesday afternoon in federal court and was charged with bank robbery, and using a firearm during a bank robbery.

If convicted, Gomez could be sentenced to up to 27 years in prison.

Related Story: 6/21/11 Choctaw Bank Robbery Suspect Turns Himself In