By Donna Hales
A Porum man wanted for questioning about a Keys bank robbery turned himself into a Muskogee County Sheriff's investigator Thursday morning.
Joshua Toney, 24, turned himself into Investigator Coletta Peyton after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
A bank employee, James Hughart, was arrested Wednesday after admitting to the FBI that he planned the $30,000 robbery. Hughart told the FBI that Toney executed the plan, said Jason Chennault, Cherokee County undersheriff.
More than $15,000 was recovered from Hughart’s pickup truck, Chennault said.
Hughart told the FBI and county investigators that Toney entered the bank through a back door that Hughart opened for him. He then allegedly threatened Hughart and two female employees with a handgun and made them wait in a restroom while he took more than $30,000 from the bank’s cash drawers, Chennault said.
Peyton contacted family and friends of Toney on Wednesday night and left a message for him to contact her.
She talked with Toney over the phone Thursday. A friend who was with Toney called Porum Police Officer John Cotner and told him Toney was going to meet Cotner.
Peyton said she and Toney’s parents met Toney at his apartment in Porum, where he surrendered.
“He did not have his part of the $30,000 taken in the robbery on him,” Peyton said. “I transported him to Fort Gibson and turned him over to Cherokee County Deputy James Brown.”
Chennault said about 2 p.m. Thursday that Toney had confessed to his part in the bank robbery and told deputies where to find his share of the proceeds.
Lawmen were searching for it in a site near the Porum area, he said. By 4 p.m., the empty bank bags were found where Toney told them the money was — but no money was found, Chennault said.
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