20-Jan-19 – A career criminal who has repeatedly committed felonies while on parole for previous crimes is charged with robbing one River North bank last week and is suspected of holding up two others, according to the FBI, state records, and a federal criminal complaint.

Major Neal McCoy, age 35, was arrested on January 16 near Grand Avenue & Desplaines Street, west of the Loop, after Chicago police spotted him in a taxi following the holdup minutes earlier of the Chase branch at 230 West Grand Avenue.

An FBI agent stated in a criminal complaint that arresting officers found large bundles of cash totaling about $9,300 in the leg of McCoy’s sweatpants.

Two bank tellers told investigators that McCoy handed them a note that read to the effect of, “I have a bomb and gun. 20,000. Big bills.” McCoy (left) waived his Miranda rights in an interview with FBI agents and admitted to the January 16 bank robbery, according to the federal agent.

In addition to the robbery of the Chase branch on Grand Avenue, McCoy is suspected of robbing the Chase branch at 755 North Larrabee Street on January 14 and the Chase branch at 1122 North Clark Street on January 15.

State records show that McCoy was released from prison on parole in March 2017 after serving half of a six-year sentence for burglary. Before that, he received an 18-month sentence for shoplifting in 2013, six years for armed robbery in 2008, four years for robbery in 2006, and one year for theft in 2006.

McCoy has violated the terms of his parole by committing new felonies every time he has been released early, records show.