McLean man convicted of robbing Normal credit union

Posted on August 10, 2017
Normal and McLean police joined the FBI in the investigation. (WJBC file photo)

By Greg Halbleib

PEORIA – A federal jury has convicted a McLean man of robbing the Land of Lincoln Credit Union in Normal last year.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Peoria reports the jury deliberated for about one hour Wednesday before finding Scott Books, 34, guilty of the July 2016 holdup.

Prosecutors said Books cashed bad checks at the credit union in the months before the robbery. Investigators said Books entered the credit union with a partial mask and what appeared to be a handgun. One of the tellers recognized Books, which led police to his residence, where officers found a vehicle and items matching the tellers’ description.

A follow-up investigation by the FBI and Normal police turned up a text message from Books to a friend on the day of the robbery asking,  “What bank should I rob today?”

Sentencing has not been scheduled. Books faces up to 20 years in prison.

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