By David Lohr
July 12, 2007
ERIE, PA (Crime Library) — Federal authorities have unsealed indictments in the Erie"Collarbomber" case—a bizarre bank robbery that captured the nation's attention in 2003. During a press conference yesterday afternoon, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced that pizza deliveryman Brian Wells was not a hostage and was a conspirator in the plot with Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, 58, and Kenneth E. Barnes.
The indictment reads, in part, as follows:
"From in and around February 2003, and continuing thereafter until or about September 21, 2003, in the western district of Pennsylvania, the defendants, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Kenneth Barnes, knowingly and willfully did conspire, combine, confederate and agree together and with each other, and with other persons whose identities are both known and unknown to the grand jury, to commit offenses against the United States, that is: Armed Bank Robbery, in violation of title 18, United States code, sections 2113(d), 2113(e) and 2; and the use of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of title 18, United States code, sections 924 © (1) (b) (11) and 2."
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| Brian Wells |
The indictment also mentions Wells' roll in the conspiracy. According to section four of the indictment, the perpetrators "wanted it to appear that the co-conspirator [Wells], who wore the destructive device into the banks, was merely a hostage," when, in fact, he was a willing participant.
The indictment alleges Diehl-Armstrong had solicited Barnes' help in the robbery in July 2003. According to federal authorities the motive behind the crime was Diehl-Armstrong's desire to raise money so she could have her father murdered to collect her inheritance.
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Indictments May Be Pending In Erie Collarbomber Investigation
See Crime Library Feature Story on the 'Collarbomber'
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