KC Reporter

A Kansas City man has admitted guilt in a federal court for attempting to rob a local bank. Cleburn Bruce Greene, 50, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of attempted bank robbery. Greene has been held in federal custody since his arrest.

On October 1, 2024, Greene entered the bank at around 10:08 a.m., wrote on a piece of paper at the customer service counter, and presented it to a teller. The note read: “Give me your money.” When asked if he had an account at the bank, Greene replied: “No. this is a robbery.” He further warned: “Don’t play with me” and “don’t make me do something crazy,” or similar words. While the teller was accessing emergency cash on his computer, Greene left the bank and discarded the note in a nearby dumpster, which investigators later retrieved. Surveillance footage showed him fleeing in a Kia Sportage.

Later that day at approximately 3:30 p.m., officers from the Kansas City Police Department spotted Greene in a restaurant parking lot wearing the same clothes as during the attempted robbery. He drove to a gas station where officers arrested him without incident.

Greene faces up to 20 years in federal prison without parole under federal statutes. However, sentencing will be determined by the court based on advisory guidelines and other factors after a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford is prosecuting this case, which was investigated by both the FBI and Kansas City Police Department.

This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, an enhanced strategy for PSN was launched focusing on community trust, supporting preventive organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement.