A grand jury will determine whether CornerBank robbery suspect Joe Phimmala faces federal charges in connection with an armed robbery that occurred earlier this month, Winfield police Lt. Frank Owens said.
Owens said he was informed Monday that a federal grand jury will hear evidence in the case July 21 and determine whether Phimmala will be indicted federally.
Grand juries are more commonly used in the federal court system and are formed in a manner similar to trial juries. Prosecutors will present evidence in the CornerBank case and ask that the grand jury find it sufficient to file formal charges.
Phimmala, 30, has been charged at the state level but those charges are expected to be dropped if the suspect is indicted on federal charges.
He is accused of entering the CornerBank south branch location on Main July 3, brandishing a firearm and demanding money.
Phimmala was arrested about 12 hours later at a friend’s home.
