KNOXVILLE, Tenn.–The two men suspected of a string of abduction/robberies during 2015 in Tennessee in which credit union employees were confronted in their own homes had plans at the time of their arrests to attempt similar kidnappings in South Carolina, federal authorities are alleging.
During an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley here, federal prosecutors said that Brian Witham, 45, was one of two men who involved in the kidnapping and extortion plots. The other person who allegedly partnered with Witham in the crimes—Michael Benanti, 43—will be arraigned on Friday. Both men were extradited here to face charges after having been arrested in North Carolina.
According to prosecutors, Witham and Benanti were behind extortion/robberies involving employees of Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in April of 201; of SmartBank in West Knoxville, Tenn. in July, 2015, and of Northeast Community Credit Union in Elizabethton, Tenn. in October, 2015.
Authorities continue to investigate whether the men were also involved in a similar robbery attempt in Connecticut in February of 2015.
Prosecutors said that the two men were serving federal prison terms for robberies when they were housed together in Lewisburg, Penn. While there Witham and Benanti attempted to escape but were foiled, and as a result were transferred to a Supermax prison in Florence, Colo. for the remainder of their sentences.
In 2008 Benanti was the first to be freed and he started a company called Prisoners Assistant, which he said was designed to provide financial services for inmates. When he was freed later, Witham joined with Benanti in the business. Prosecutors said the entire enterprise was a fraud.
"A federal search warrant was executed at this business, which was in the basement of Benanti's home, and in a closet in Benanti's office, FBI agents recovered a bag containing tools and equipment used to perpetuate the types of crimes alleged in this (extortion) indictment, including rubber masks depicting human faces, temporary tattoos, wigs, and clothing bearing FBI and NYPD insignia — and I can assert neither of these defendants have ever been employed by any law enforcement agency," Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lewen was quoted by the Knoxville News Sentinel as telling the court during the arraignment.
On Way To South Carolina To Attempt Similar Crimes, Say Authorities
Lewen said the two men were involved in two high-speed chases in North Carolina, during the first of which they escaped. They were later captured and arrested on charges of possessing stolen vehicles.
According to Lewen, at the time of the arrest the two men were on their way to South Carolina with plans for abducting and robbing other financial institution executives in their homes.
"In fact, Benanti, as he was being arrested, had surveillance tools and was attempting to conceal a piece of paper containing the names, addresses and other details for several bank employees,” Lewen was quoted by the Knoxville News Sentinel as telling the court.
Prosecutors did not reveal which financial institutions had been targeted.
Witham waived his right to a hearing. The men are scheduled for trial on March 29.
Meanwhile, the first abduction/robbery of 2015, that of Matthew Yussman, 46, the CFO at Achieve Financial Credit Union in New Britain, Conn., remains under investigation and no arrests have been made.