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Feds: Bank teller orchestrated robberies

Calia Kane
Calia KaneRead more

A bank teller who allegedly orchestrated the armed robbery of the branch where she worked was charged today on multiple bank robbery counts along with three Philadelphia men who were her alleged accomplices.

Calia Kane, 19, was a teller at the Wells Fargo Bank branch on Levering Mill Road in Bala Cynwyd. According to the indictment, Kane conspired with Marquis Wilson, 23, Malcolm Moore, 23, and Martril Foster, 21 to strike the branch on Nov. 4. Kane began her shift that day as the three men waited outside for her to signal them to enter.

Kane used a text message at 11:45 a.m. to summon them. The three men stormed into the branch wearing masks and dark clothing. Wilson carried a black duffle bag as Moore brandished a .40 caliber handgun. They locked the door behind them, according to the indictment.

After ordering everyone to the floor, they ordered the tellers to hand over the cash.  As Moore aimed his pistol at customers and employees, Wilson removed the money from the teller drawers.

The three men fled with $81,000 through the bank's back door to a rented getaway vehicle, the indictment said.

Three days later, they planned their next heist. The quartet cased several suburban Wells Fargo branches with Kane entering each to survey the floor plans. The settled on a Phoenixville branch on Schuylkill Road, according to the incitement.

They rented a U-Haul van to serve as a getaway vehicle on Nov. 10. The next day they drove to the bank. It was closed.

The quartet returned the next day. Kane entered the bank to determine how many customers were inside, then left, and waited for several of the customers to leave.

As she drove away at 11 a.m. in a separate car, the three men read her departure as a signal to strike, according to the indictment.

The robbery of the Phoenixville branch followed the same choreography as the Bala Cynwyd job, with each of the men performing the same duties. This time they fled with $70,400.

Federal prosecutors did not comment on how the quartet was caught or if the money was recovered. Kane, Moore and Wilson were captured Jan. 29 in Atlanta.

Each has been charged with armed bank robbery, conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, and firearms counts. The case was investigated by the FBI, Lower Merion and  East Pikeland police.