Chicago Bank Robbery Suspect Identified Himself On Tipster's Tape, Court Papers Say

Saturday, June 2nd 2007, 7:52 pm

By: News On 6

CHICAGO (AP) _ An informant hoping for part of a $50,000 reward tape-recorded a chilling conversation that helped the FBI arrest a suspect in a bank holdup that left a teller dead, according to documents released Saturday.

In the taped conversation, suspect Alton Marshall, 30, identified himself and two other men in images of the robbery from bank surveillance cameras that were printed in newspapers, according to the affidavit.

Marshall warned that if the informant told anyone about his involvement in the crime, ``there'll be a contract on your head,'' the affidavit said.

Marshall appeared in federal court Saturday morning and was charged with one count of bank robbery and one count of using a firearm during a violent crime, according to a criminal complaint. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.

He did not enter a plea, said Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office.

The informant's identity, gender and relationship to Marshall were not detailed in the affidavit. It said the informant is seeking relocation.

Marshall was arrested Monday in Chicago. According to the affidavit, he admitted to authorities after his arrest that he fired shots during the May 22 holdup at the Illinois Service Federal Savings and Loan.

But Marshall said it was one of the other two robbers who shot 23-year-old bank teller Tramaine Gibson, who later died. A female customer and a male security guard also were wounded.

The affidavit said a teller drawer containing approximately $6,000 was taken. Marshall told authorities that he, the two other bank robbers and a fourth individual who stole the getaway car divided the money at Marshall's home.

The informant told FBI agents that Marshall and two other men went to the informant's home briefly May 19 with two bags, the affidavit said. The informant looked into one and saw two guns, clothing and three black masks.

The informant had noticed that a blue laundry bag with the name of a coin laundry on it was missing from the informant's home the day of the robbery, and later asked Marshall about it, the affidavit said. Marshall said he had used the bag.

A blue laundry bag carrying the name of a coin laundry was recovered from the bank after the holdup, the affidavit said.

Federal public defender Alison Siegler represented Marshall in court Saturday but was not expected to continue representing him. She did not immediately return a message left on her office voicemail.

Marshall was ordered held without bond pending a June 7 detention hearing.

Marshall apparently was one of three suspects taken into custody in connection with the robbery. FBI spokesman Ross Rice said Friday that one suspect was arrested earlier this week and two more on Friday.

Videotapes of the robbery showed three holdup men wearing black shirts and white gloves with what appeared to be stocking caps or masks over their faces.