EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – a man appeared in federal court last Friday to face a federal charge for allegedly robbing a bank in Fairview Heights, Illinois. He will remain detained pending trial.
Kiante M. Brooks, 32, is facing one count of federal bank robbery. According to court documents, around 5:00 p.m. on August 13, 2026, Fairview Heights Police Department (“FHPD”) received a call from a local bank teller advising the police that a co-worker was being robbed. FHPD arrived on scene and Brooks exited the bank. FHPD immediately took Brooks into custody without incident. According to court documents, Brooks was in possession of a black bag at the time of his arrest. The bag allegedly contained the cash stolen from the bank and a demand note stating, “ROBBERY GIVE ME $10,000. I HAVE A GUN.”
“The Department of Justice recently announced the largest year-to-year drop in the violent crime rate in American history from 2024 to 2025, and the downward trend is continuing in 2026,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Those statistics included an 18.5 percent decrease in bank robberies, which is explained by a nationwide emphasis on aggressive enforcement. Credit to the Fairview Heights Police Department and the FBI for the quick work that took this defendant into custody without incident.”
“The FBI Springfield Field Office remains committed to conducting thorough investigations that help ensure the safety of our communities and the security of our financial institutions,” said FBI Springfield’s Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “We appreciate the quick, professional response of the Fairview Heights Police Department and value the strong partnership that supports our work on cases like this.”
Jury trial is set for October 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM in the Benton Courthouse. The FBI Springfield Field Office is investigating with support from the Fairview Heights Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Reppert is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
