OKC bank robber sentenced to serve 52 months in Federal Prison

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, JOHNELLE FABRE SHELLS, 31, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 52 months in federal prison for bank robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

On September 17, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a one-count Indictment charging Shells with the robbery of a branch of MidFirst Bank, located at 2225 N. May Avenue, in Oklahoma City.

According to public record and court documents, Shells entered the bank on May 21, 2018.  He handed the teller a demand note requesting she give him all the cash in the drawer, and she complied.  Later that day, Oklahoma City Police Department arrested Shells in possession of the stolen cash.  On October 24, 2019, Shells pleaded guilty to the Indictment.

Today, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Shells to serve 52 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  In imposing the sentence, Judge Palk noted the nature and circumstances of the offense and the need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Oklahoma City Field Division and the Oklahoma City Police Department.  Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Kumiega and Deputy Criminal Chief Lori Hines prosecuted the case.

Reference is made to court filings for further information.