Man robs bank for $1 to get medical care in jail.

[Taco-Calamitous]

link

GASTONIA, N.C. — A Gaston County man robbed a bank and then sat down on the floor to wait for police to arrest him.
Don't miss these Health stories

"(This is the) first time I've ever been in trouble with the law,” James Verone said from the Gaston County Jail on Friday. “I'm sort of a logical person and that was my logic. (That was) what I came up with.”
That is how Verone said he came to the decision to rob the RBC bank on New Hope Road on Thursday, June 9.
He didn’t have a gun and he handed the teller a rather unusual note.
"The note said ‘This is a bank robbery. Please only give me one dollar,’" Verone said.
Then he did the strangest thing of all.
"I started to walk away from the teller, then I went back and said, 'I'll be sitting right over there in the chair waiting for the police," Verone said.

And that is what he did.
The teller called 911 and police released the recording:
911 Operator: Is he being threatening to ya’ll?
Bank teller: Yes
911 Operator: What is, he has threatened you?
Bank teller: Yes
911 Operator: To shoot you?
Bank teller: Uh, yes. He’s sitting on the sofa. He can hear everything I’m saying, so I’m in a back room. But there’s four of us here in the bank. Please hurry.
911 Operator: Ok ma’am. They’re just right out there.
So why did Verone do everything he could to get arrested?
"Because I wanted to make it known that this wasn't for monetary reasons, but for medical reasons," he said.
Hoping for three-year sentence
Verone said he doesn’t have medical insurance. He has a growth of some sort on his chest, two ruptured disks and a problem with his left foot. He is 59-years-old and with no job and a depleted bank account, he thought jail was the best place he could go for medical care and a roof over his head.

Verone said he wanted police to arrest him.
"Oh yeah. I went in knowing I was going to jail," Verone said.
He is hoping for a three-year sentence. He would then be able to collect Social Security when he got out and said he would head for the beach.
"I've already looked at a condominium. I've spoken to a realtor on Myrtle Beach," Verone said.
He admits his story is unusual and said he wouldn't recommend anyone else do what he did, but Verone said he has no regrets. He said he is getting good medical care now, but the jail doctor accused him of manipulating the system.
"If it is called manipulation, then out of necessity because I need medical care then I guess I am manipulating the courts to get medical care," Verone said.
Verone may have a problem with his plan because he only demanded one dollar in the bank robbery. Police charged him, not with bank robbery, but larceny from a person. He might not get as much time in the slammer as he was hoping for.

I find this somewhat amusing, but at the same time, I wonder how he will do in prison. Not sure where he'll end up exactly, or who will be in there with him and what their opinion of him will be.

I find it interesting that the woman told 911 that he had a gun and was threatening her with it. He gave no indication that he had one. Also, he only asked for a dollar, then proceeded to go sit on a sofa to wait for the police... Maybe I'm not cautious enough, but I think I might ask him, "Are you for real? Let me see your weapon, whatever it may be." And if he didn't have one, just laugh at him or something. I guess you don't know what a robber is going to do-someone might just straight up shoot me if they had a gun. Of course he wouldn't have, because he didn't have a gun. If they find that he was manipulating the system, would she get in some kind of trouble too?

Because it almost seems to me like he was aiding him in his plan. I guess I wasn't there, and am not a teller, so... Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[loaf]

Read about this earlier today.

Terrible idea.

Take care of yourself if you want free medical.

[che]

link

I find this somewhat amusing, but at the same time, I wonder how he will do in prison. Not sure where he'll end up exactly, or who will be in there with him and what their opinion of him will be.

I find it interesting that the woman told 911 that he had a gun and was threatening her with it. He gave no indication that he had one. Also, he only asked for a dollar, then proceeded to go sit on a sofa to wait for the police... Maybe I'm not cautious enough, but I think I might ask him, "Are you for real? Let me see your weapon, whatever it may be." And if he didn't have one, just laugh at him or something. I guess you don't know what a robber is going to do-someone might just straight up shoot me if they had a gun. Of course he wouldn't have, because he didn't have a gun. If they find that he was manipulating the system, would she get in some kind of trouble too?

Because it almost seems to me like he was aiding him in his plan. I guess I wasn't there, and am not a teller, so... Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

Yeah, you wouldn't do that. Banks have policies and inform their workers how they want to deal with situations like these. If you don't do the right thing, you're going to be fire (or killed). It's to protect the bank from lawsuit.

Also, homeless people do this (not frequently) but on occaision. It's kind of smart if you have nothing else and don't mind being around criminals. I mean, on the street, vs. sharing a cell with a guy who probably sold weed or something stupid (though I suppose you could get very unlucky).

I wonder if the police tazed him or anything like that...

[Taco-Calamitous]

I figured maybe they have to call 911 for anything like that, but it seems kind of weird that she told them he definitely had a gun, when clearly she didn't see one because there wasn't one. Just seems anti-intuitive to me. And I said it might get me shot. I'm not retarded, believe it or not I just think I would be a bit more skeptical of him actually being dangerous given the circumstances. If it were me and I were following the bank's guidelines so as to keep my job, I would tell the 911 dispatcher that a man threatened to rob the place, that I did not see a gun, but that I am worried anyway. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[che]

I figured maybe they have to call 911 for anything like that, but it seems kind of weird that she told them he definitely had a gun, when clearly she didn't see one because there wasn't one. Just seems anti-intuitive to me. And I said it might get me shot. I'm not retarded, believe it or not I just think I would be a bit more skeptical of him actually being dangerous given the circumstances. If it were me and I were following the bank's guidelines so as to keep my job, I would tell the 911 dispatcher that a man threatened to rob the place, that I did not see a gun, but that I am worried anyway. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

Yeah, I didn't mean to call you out or anything, I just wasn't sure if you were aware of the policies. You can do whatever you want. I would have followed procedure, especially because I'm assuming the conversation between the two would have been perceived as non-threatening despite the circumstances. Especially when you'd hear what he wanted from the register.

"I could call this guy out for not having a gun, or I could follow procedure, keep my job, and nobody gets hurt anyway." Win.

[Kyreaan]

link

I find this somewhat amusing, but at the same time, I wonder how he will do in prison. Not sure where he'll end up exactly, or who will be in there with him and what their opinion of him will be.

I find it interesting that the woman told 911 that he had a gun and was threatening her with it. He gave no indication that he had one. Also, he only asked for a dollar, then proceeded to go sit on a sofa to wait for the police... Maybe I'm not cautious enough, but I think I might ask him, "Are you for real? Let me see your weapon, whatever it may be." And if he didn't have one, just laugh at him or something. I guess you don't know what a robber is going to do-someone might just straight up shoot me if they had a gun. Of course he wouldn't have, because he didn't have a gun. If they find that he was manipulating the system, would she get in some kind of trouble too?

Because it almost seems to me like he was aiding him in his plan. I guess I wasn't there, and am not a teller, so... Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

That's pretty funny. That's NC all right. She should also get hit with the cuffs for flat out lying like a stupid bitch. I hate that. If you're going to be a bitch, be honest. A good lawyer could get that guy a reduced sentence and also a suit against the woman for stating that he in fact had a gun. That should be illegal. This isn't even the first instance by far of women, usually over men, lying about some situation in public like their maturity never hit above 14. Someone's going to being saying, "so... Anyhoo... Wuv, Yer Mom", in prison to that guy. They need to say it to that fish too. What a c0c%$|c%er.

[che]

That's pretty funny. That's NC all right. She should also get hit with the cuffs for flat out lying like a stupid bitch. I hate that. If you're going to be a bitch, be honest. A good lawyer could get that guy a reduced sentence and also a suit against the woman for stating that he in fact had a gun. That should be illegal. This isn't even the first instance by far of women, usually over men, lying about some situation in public like their maturity never hit above 14. Someone's going to being saying, "so... Anyhoo... Wuv, Yer Mom", in prison to that guy. They need to say it to that fish too. What a c0c%$|c%er.

What? The guy told her he had a gun. Just because she doesn't see it doesn't mean it's not there. What's more illegal, a man who needs healthcare saying he has a gun and robbing 1$ from a bank, or a girl saying "he told me he had a gun." What are you on about?

[OceanEyes28]

Kyreaan, I feel like you're trolling women..... and it doesn't even make sense.


Typical male behavior.








As for our bankrobber pal... it's awfully sad that someone feels like they have to go to prison to get healthcare. But I can't hate on him too much. He didn't hurt anyone... and even though tax dollars will be supporting him during his time in prison... there are lesser people in prison who get the support of those same tax dollars. Hope he makes it.

[Kyreaan]

I would have to be hounding someone to be trolling. I don't troll, so I don't know what you're talking about. My opinion what based on how I read Telegraph's post + what I read from Telegraph's post. It's not typical anything. It's based off of an entire adulthood watching liars and schemers. You can ask your shrink friend what she thinks. Ask her why the woman would say that she saw a gun. That's not trolling women, you Harlequin.

That is a woman who lied when she could have said that the man said he claim to have a gun. There's a major difference there. Telegraph already pointed it out. My point was that it should be illegal to twist a situation around or on someone. Wow. Read my posts. They made you a Super Mod back in the old days for a reason.

[OceanEyes28]

I would have to be hounding someone to be trolling. I don't troll, so I don't know what you're talking about. My opinion what based on how I read Telegraph's post + what I read from Telegraph's post. It's not typical anything. It's based off of an entire adulthood watching liars and schemers. You can ask your shrink friend what she thinks. Ask her why the woman would say that she saw a gun. That's not trolling women, you Harlequin.

That is a woman who lied when she could have said that the man said he claim to have a gun. There's a major difference there. Telegraph already pointed it out. My point was that it should be illegal to twist a situation around or on someone. Wow. Read my posts. They made you a Super Mod back in the old days for a reason.

I'm afraid trolling is something you do more than you should. This time, you have my attention, and you have a brand new warning.

Everyone else, it's best if you don't respond to his latest post.

[Clint]

That's NC all right. She should also get hit with the cuffs for flat out lying like a stupid bitch.

Typically, bank robbers have guns. Even if it wasn't visible, it's logical to assume that the bank robber has a gun, especially when he tells you that he does. She's not going to get in trouble for that, because she didn't do anything wrong.

Typical male behavior.

Typical female response to male sexism.

It makes sense that the guy would choose prison to get medical care. Prison inmates get medical care for free. They also get free room and board. Some could argue that inmates live better lives then most of the lower class and lower middle class.

He didn't hurt anybody, and his motives for his crime are somewhat justified, so although he's in prison, I doubt his sentence will be very long. A couple years, at most. Hopefully by the time he gets out, money will be worth something again, and he'll be able to get a job and afford medical care.

[BlackBlade]

I just think its sad the man had to resort to this in the first place. Can you imagine what position he has to be in to voluntarily go to jail? Hopefully he can get help and no one else ever resorts to this kind of thing again......but someone else probably will.

[Taco-Calamitous]

I watched the video and read the transcription again, and at no point does it say that he told her he had a gun. Maybe it would be logical to think that he has a gun, but from the story, it didn't sound like he did anything threatening at all. That just seems really weird to me that she would say he had a gun when he gave no indication that he had one.

Yeah, I hope that guy gets out of there okay too. It's a little dishonest what he did, but it is sad to see someone in such a desperate situation. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[Dodie16]

I've read a few follow-up stories, and some say that the bank-teller had to go in for medical treatment for the stress the situation caused.

I'm glad he's got the medical attention that he needs/deserves, though it's sad that he had to resort to such measures to get it.

[Halie]

Did you not think that maybe the woman was scared and panicked a bit? I know it was wrong of her and not justifiable, but I really do understand why she may have lied about it. A lot of people in her position would have done the same thing. She didn't know what his motives were or what he was capable of doing, and from her point of view he was a threat. So perhaps she lied because she wanted the police to come as fast as they could and were more likely to if a gun was involved. I really think you ought to give her a break, she was just frightened. I honestly don't believe she just thought "Ah, **** it, I'll say he had a gun because I'm a bitch and I can."

[che]

Did you not think that maybe the woman was scared and panicked a bit? I know it was wrong of her and not justifiable, but I really do understand why she may have lied about it. A lot of people in her position would have done the same thing. She didn't know what his motives were or what he was capable of doing, and from her point of view he was a threat. So perhaps she lied because she wanted the police to come as fast as they could and were more likely to if a gun was involved. I really think you ought to give her a break, she was just frightened. I honestly don't believe she just thought "Ah, **** it, I'll say he had a gun because I'm a bitch and I can."

And if she did say that, let's remember who the real asshole is. It's not the bank teller.

It's a sad time when people accept robbing banks for 1$ as an option to put themselves in a "better" place in life. (I put quotes because obviously jail is not all smiles and rainbows)

[Taco-Calamitous]

Yeah, maybe she was scared. Maybe she lied about it to get the police there faster. Maybe you're right. And it is sad that this guy had to resort to this to get medical treatment. Such is the state that the economy is in.

I was just commenting with the first thoughts that came to mind for my initial message. I am not sitting here at home fuming that she lied about him having a gun. I didn't look at it from her perspective, I hope she is okay and wasn't too affected by this experience, like Dodie was talking about. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[Alpha]

Only in America



A couple of things are weird about this.

For one, why would this get you jail time? I mean, bank robbery, sure. But this was $1. And as far as I can tell, he didn't get 1c. So it's attempted larceny at best. Here, we'd give you a $200 fine and a slap on the wrist. That way we end up making money from petty criminals, rather than spending money on them. Moreover, poor people don't have an incentive to commit petty crime because there is absolutely no way they can benefit -- fines and loss of welfare payments, not to mention further diminished job credentials.

Second... This guy was law abiding, hardworking, and honest. Had he been able to access treatment for his injuries and conditions, he would have continued to be law abiding, hard working, and honest. *Cough* universal healthcare *cough*.

[Merlin]

I just think its sad the man had to resort to this in the first place. Can you imagine what position he has to be in to voluntarily go to jail? Hopefully he can get help and no one else ever resorts to this kind of thing again......but someone else probably will.

I've talked to a few people on their way back to jail for the upteenth time and they have very good reasons for being repeat offenders. For one, it beats being on the street homeless. You get better care and food in a jail then you do living in a cardboard box in horrid weather. Why bother trying to get a job when you can get a house, food, and clothing for free? Also, if you have a medical condition that your insurance won't cover or you are too broke to pay for it... the good ole taxpayers will pay for it while you stay in jail. It's actually quite smart given the situation these people are in. Commit a petty crime and get free room and board at a low-security jail.

Is it right? No. It is technically cheating the system, so the real problem here is the fact that jail(in the US) doesn't work. It isn't a punishment anymore...

[Diamond Dust]

God bless the NHS.