Anderson man charged with robbing Joplin bank

A man from Anderson, Missouri, is now facing charges related to the robbery of the Great Southern Bank in Joplin Monday morning.

Court documents state that the suspect, later identified as 63-year-old Vincent Patrick Gepson, entered the bank around 10 a.m., went directly to the teller counter, and demanded money.

He then allegedly informed the victim teller that he had a gun and for the teller to give him $100’s, $50’s, and $20’s.

After grabbing the money, Gepson then allegedly left the bank through the front door and departed in a dark-colored SUV.

After receiving the surveillance photographs from Great Southern Bank, the Joplin Police Department posted a photo of the suspect on their Facebook page, asking for help in identifying him.

According to an affidavit, later in the morning, police received a phone call from an individual who identified himself as Gepson.

Gepson reportedly informed the Sergeant that a bank robbery suspect’s photograph had been placed on JPD’s Facebook page and that although the photograph looked like him, he had not robbed the bank, claiming he was in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, at the time of the robbery.

The Police Sergeant then reviewed booking photos of Gepson from prior arrests and found similarities to the man in the bank surveillance photos.

An employee at the Economic Security Agency in Anderson told investigators that earlier in the morning, Gepson came into her office and asked for a facial mask.

The employee stated that the mask she provided Gepson was similar to the mask worn by the suspect who robbed the bank.

It is believed he used the mask to hide his goatee and distinct facial features.

An area tire shop also reported that a man, that appeared to be Gepson, made a cash payment at their business 30 minutes after the bank was reportedly robbed.