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Man Says He Tried To Rob Bank Of $1 To Get Health Care In Prison

James Verone, who says he tried to rob a bank of $1 because he needs health care and thought he could get it in prison.
WCNC-TV
James Verone, who says he tried to rob a bank of $1 because he needs health care and thought he could get it in prison.

The part of this story that's getting attention across the nation is that James Verone of Gaston County, N.C., decided that the only way he could get adequate health care and a solid roof over his head would be to get himself arrested for trying to rob a bank of $1.

Verone, 59, says he has several medical problems, including a growth on this chest and two ruptured disks. He also says he's out of work and has no insurance.

So, according to Verone, that's why he walked into a bank in Gastonia earlier this month and gave a teller a note that said "This is a bank robbery. Please only give me one dollar." Then, he waited for the police.

Getting less attention is this passage in the report from WCNC-TV in Charlotte:

"He is hoping for a three-year sentence. He would then be able to collect Social Security when he got out and said he would head for the beach. 'I've already looked at a condominium. I've spoken to a realtor on Myrtle Beach,' Verone said."

As Verone also tells WCNC, "I'm sort of a logical person."

He may have out-smarted himself, though: WCNC says the charge against him is "larceny from a person," not bank robbery. "He might not get as much time in the slammer as he was hoping for," the station says.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Mark Memmott is NPR's supervising senior editor for Standards & Practices. In that role, he's a resource for NPR's journalists – helping them raise the right questions as they do their work and uphold the organization's standards.