John Scott Brooks, 36, of Lawton, has been arrested and charged with robbing the Southwest Oklahoma Federal Credit Union (SOFCU), according to U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed last week, Brooks pulled into a drive-thru lane of SOFCU, located at 6714 West Gore Boulevard during the morning on March 23. He allegedly handed a demand note to a teller, along with what appeared to the teller to be an explosive device. Brooks then held up a tablet that was counting down time, and the teller then provided cash to Brooks.
After bank surveillance photos were published in the media and a search warrant was executed at Brooks’ residence in Lawton, law enforcement obtained information that led to Brooks’ arrest on Friday.
Today, Brooks made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell in Oklahoma City, and he was ordered detained pending further proceedings in the case.
If found guilty of bank robbery, Brooks faces a maximum potential penalty of twenty years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and mandatory restitution.
This case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation—Oklahoma City Field Office and the Lawton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Kumeiga is prosecuting the case.
