Shabaaka Oran Awolowo, Arriean “Neal” Kenebrew, and
Larry W. Shipe, Jr. Indicted For Bank Robbery

Cross Dressing Bank Robber Charged in Bank Robbery Spree

KNOXVILLE—On January 21, 2009, a federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, indicted Shabaaka Oran Awolowo of Knoxville, Tennessee, Arriean “Neal” Kenebrew of Texas City, Texas, and Larry W. Shipe, Jr. of Knoxville, Tennessee, of bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery. Specifically, Awolowo is charged with committing six (6) bank robberies in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area between December 2007 and January 2009. Kenebrew is charged in three (3) of those robberies and Shipe is charged in one (1). The robber was disguised as a woman in three (3) of those robberies in December 2008. A trial date has not been set.

If convicted, each defendant will face a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years for each robbery charged.

The indictment of Awolowo, Kenebrew, and Shipe is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Maryville Police Department, and Pigeon Forge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracy L. Stone and Kelly A. Norris will represent the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

For additional information, please contact United States Attorney Russ Dedrick, 865-545-4167, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracy L. Stone or Kelly A. Norris, 865-545-4167, or Public Information Officer Sharry Dedman-Beard, 865-545-4167.

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