By Patrick Tepoorten

Community National Bank, North Branch, was raided by federal agents on June 18 at around 4:20 p.m. As yet, nothing is known as to why the bank was served with search warrants by the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Criminal Investigation Unit and the office of the Postal Inspector. IRS special agent Jim Shoup would not comment on the justification for the search warrant.

The presence of the North Branch Police Department was requested by federal agents to assist in securing the bank. North Branch's Lt. Dan Meyer said the police presence was requested so that bank employees would not be alarmed when armed plainclothed officers entered the bank. Once the bank was secured, NBPD was released from the premises. It is believed that federal agents remained at the site for several hours.

According to police chief Steve Forner, his department was told nothing about the reason for the raid. Meyer added that, according to Shoup, the search warrant is considered a sealed document at this time.

Bank owner Bill Sandison stated that the warrant pertained to a customer and not the bank itself, but because the target of the investigation is a customer, Sandison would not speak further, citing customer privacy issues.

Shoup referred all media calls to the U.S. Attorney's Office and inquiries there led to something called the Yellow Medicine Task Force, but no one at that extension was available to comment.

Kevin Mukri, director of Press Relations for the Comptroller of the Currency, explained that when law enforcement agencies are involved, as they appear to be here, it generally implies a legal issue with an individual, or individuals, and not the soundness of the bank. Mukri added that, as the office responsible for banking operations, there is no action against Community National Bank.

Neither the U.S. District Court nor the U.S. Attorney's office could provide any information about the warrant, or the subject of any investigation. Jeanne Cooney, U.S. Attorney's office spokesperson, would not confirm or deny that there is any investigation ongoing. She also stated that the first public notice of an investigation in this case would be in the event someone were charged with a crime.

Comment from Bob McCullough, 7/13/07

It appears that Mr Sandison was fibbing. The Bank appears to be the culprit.