Man who robbed bank in Jesus' name then called pastor pleads guilty

An Alaska man who pleaded guilty in federal court to using the name of Jesus to rob a bank in Anchorage on Monday is now facing up to 20 years in prison for his crime.

The man, 37-year-old Deshalon Bosha Jelks, changed his plea to guilty to the single count of Credit Union Robbery, without a plea agreement, seven months after similar state charges were dismissed against him earlier this year. He is now set for sentencing on Jan. 21, 2027, 2KTUU reported.

An affidavit from the Alaska District Court reviewed by The Christian Post said Jelks went to a teller at Credit Union 1 on Debarr Road in Anchorage at about 5:58 p.m. on Feb. 26 local time and gave her a note stating that he was armed “with the power and authority of Jesus.”

“I have a weapon. And that weapon I am armed with [is] the power & authority of Jesus Christ. Empty the drawer into an envelope; do not set off the alarm. — Neeclti sent me. — Thank you,” Jelks’ note said.

The threat convinced the teller to empty her till into an envelope and hand it to Jelks with a tracker inside. The teller described Jelks to investigators as a “light-skinned African American with freckles” and said he was wearing large-frame glasses and a mask. She said she was extremely nervous at the time because the credit union was crowded when Jelks demanded the money, and she feared he would start hurting customers.

Investigators say Jelks told them that after he left the bank with the money he got from the teller, he “called his mom and his pastor … then walked across the street towards Costco.”

Anchorage police later tracked him to the Costco across the street from the credit union and confronted him. During the confrontation, the affidavit says a “large amount” of money and the tracking device spilled out on the floor. Investigators reported recovering $1,701 from Jelks, who was also wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the confrontation.

While he denied having a weapon or receiving any money, even though he “desperately” needed it, investigators say Jelks admitted entering the credit union and asking for the money.

After searching his phone, investigators determined through several calls he made at the time of the robbery that the 37-year-old was trying to buy methamphetamine.

He remains in custody at the Anchorage Correctional Complex. Court records show that he was also indicted on Feb. 11 for violating a condition of his release and indecent exposure.

In 2020, Jelks was also charged with theft, resisting arrest, robbery and criminal mischief for an incident at an Anchorage gas station.