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Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Bank Robbery

Brinton Lenell Yates, 58, received a 12-year federal prison sentence for robbing a Chase Bank in Indianapolis.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 27, 2026, 3:25 p.m. ET
Developing · checked 22 min ago

This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.

We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 27, 2026, 4:08 p.m. ET — checked 22 min ago.

Brinton Lenell Yates, 58, of Indianapolis, was on August 27, 2026, to 12 years and seven months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to one count of bank robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana. He was also ordered to pay $1,583 in restitution. Court documents state that on December 2, 2025, at approximately 10:54 a.m., Yates robbed the Chase Bank on North Meridian Street. He presented a demand note reading "This is a robbery 100s and 50s," instructed the teller to "Give all the money you have," and motioned toward his waistband, saying "You think I'm playing with you?" The teller handed over $1,583, which Yates placed in his jacket pockets before leaving in a red Dodge Dakota. About an hour later, the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force located the vehicle near West 30th Street and arrested Yates. Investigators found an apartment key in the truck, and a subsequent search of Yates' apartment by IMPD officers uncovered the disguise he wore during the robbery. U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler said, "Today's sentence once again demonstrates Department of Justice commitment to seek lengthy sentences for violent repeat offenders. Regardless of the amount taken, any act of violence or intimidation against our financial institutions will be met with serious federal consequences." FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O'Malley added, "Threatening an employee and robbing a bank is a serious crime, and Yates' lengthy history makes clear that this was not an isolated incident." The case was investigated by the FBI and IMPD, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson McGrath. It is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative targeting violent crime and transnational organizations.

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  1. Version 127 Aug 2026, 19:25current

    First published.

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