United States v. James Wooten

I can think of just one reason why a bank robber would tell a bank teller he has *580a gun: to show he means business. That is what James Wooten did. On September 23, 2010, Wooten went to the Green Bank in Gordonsville, Tennessee to rob it. The bank teller did not take him seriously when he twice said, “I am going to rob you.” So Wooten upped the ante: “I have a gun. Give me your money.” R. 41 at 5. The teller, no surprise, now took him seriously — and complied. The reason the threat worked, the reason Wooten gave it, is that it conveys an unmistakable message: hand over the money or I will shoot…