Sioux City, Iowa — A man who robbed the Iowa State Bank in Sheldon has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 38-year-old Leon Sutton of Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after he pleaded guilty to bank robbery on May 17, 2023.
The US Attorney’s Office tells us that evidence in the case showed that on June 3, 2021, Sutton entered the bank at approximately 12:00 p.m., armed with a handgun, and demanded money. Sutton was seen on video surveillance in a recently-purchased car with no plates, canvasing the area. Sutton even entered the bank twice in the morning before the robbery. Sheldon officers were able to locate the previous owner of the car and traced it to Sutton, who after the robbery, fled to the Chicago area where he was apprehended.
Sutton was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 96 months in prison. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sutton is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Sheldon Police Department and the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
