FBI releases composite sketches in kidnappings, extortions at Y-12 FCU, SmartBank

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2 p.m.

KNOXVILLE—The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday released composite sketches on two subjects and one person of interest in alleged kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April and SmartBank in Knoxville in July.

See descriptions of the three below.

Here is the FBI press release:

Composite Sketches Released in Kidnapping/Extortion

The FBI, along with the Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oak Ridge Police Department are releasing composite sketches of two of the subjects and one person of interest in an effort to generate additional leads in this investigation. Due to the limited availability of facial details of the masked subject, the public is asked to pay particular attention to the description of the tattoo on the subject’s neck. Any information about the identity or whereabouts of the individuals depicted in the composite sketches should be reported to law enforcement.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the subjects who committed these violent crimes.

On April 28, 2015, at approximately 8:15 a.m., a Y-12 Federal Credit Union employee and his family were kidnapped from their residence and held hostage at gunpoint. While the family was held hostage, the employee was coerced to attempt to remove money from the Y-12 Federal Credit Union, located at 501 Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge. After the robbery, the employee’s family members were released unharmed at the Gettysvue Country Club parking lot in Knoxville. The suspects fled and remain at large.

On Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at approximately 8 a.m, a SmartBank employee and his family were kidnapped from their residence and held hostage at gunpoint. The employee and his family were taken to the SmartBank, located at 202 Advantage Place in Knoxville. While at the bank, the employee was coerced to remove an undisclosed amount of money, which was provided to the robbers. The employee was then left at the bank, and his family was released unharmed a short time later at the end of Pipkin Lane in West Knox County. The suspects fled and remain at large.

The investigative agencies are exploring the possibility that these two events are related, based on similar subject descriptions and a similar method of operation.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) and the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, as well as the KPD Violent Crimes Unit, the KCSO Major Crimes Unit, and the Oak Ridge Police Department.

Anyone with information that may lead to the identification or location of the individuals depicted in the composite sketches should contact the Knoxville FBI Office at (865) 544-0751.

See newer story with more information here.