Beck charged with bank robberies

In Peoria... A grand jury indicted a Central Illinois man, John W. Beck, 54, of Mechanicsburg, Ill., for allegedly committing four robberies over a two-week period in April.  54-YEAR-OLD John Beck of Mechanisburg (IL) is alleged to have committed four robberies in three Central Illinois counties from April 8 to April 20.  The robberies include the April 8, 2021 robbery of the Dollar General in Buffalo, Ill., in Sangamon County; robbery of the Odell Bank, Odell, Ill., in Livingston County, on April 9, 2021; robbery of the Fast Stop Store, also in Odell, Ill., on April 17, 2021; and, the armed bank robbery of Elmwood Community Bank, in Elmwood, Ill, Peoria County, on April 20, 2021.

Beck was arrested in Springfield April 21, on warrants issued by Livingston County and the Illinois Department of Corrections. He has remained in the custody of law enforcement in Livingston County.  If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are up to 25 years in prison for armed bank robbery (one count) and up to 20 years in prison for two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, known as the Hobbs Act.  There's an additional count of bank robbery.

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