
Joseph "Jose" Banks escaped from the Metropolitan Correctional Center, along with his cellmate, on Dec. 18, 2012. (Credit: FBI)
CHICAGO (CBS) — Federal prosecutors have dropped an escape charge against a convicted bank robber who broke out of the Metropolitan Correctional Center last month.
The U.S. Attorney’s office indicated it would be a waste of manpower to prosecute Joseph “Jose” Banks on the escape charge, since he’s already facing 80 years in prison for his bank robbery convictions.
However, criminal defense specialist Michael Ettinger said he thinks there might be more than that behind dropping of the escape charge.
“Probably because of the facts that would come out on how this occurred, that they don’t want the other inmates to know,” Ettinger said.