WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A Wichita man has pleaded guilty helping his brother rob a bank in March of this year.
The U.S. attorney’s office said Monday that Justin Cooper, 24, of Wichita admitted driving his brother Lessie Cooper to a Commerce Bank branch, where the brother pointed a 9 mm rifle at tellers.
But as Lessie Cooper was getting into the getaway car with the stolen money, exploding dye packs surrounded him with a red mist.
A nearby Wichita police officer who saw the packs explode chased the car. Justin Cooper surrendered after the car was stopped, but his brother ran and was found hiding under a bed in the neighborhood.
Lessie Cooper was sentenced earlier to more than 13 years in federal prison. Justin Cooper will be sentenced Jan. 7.
