Man Robs Bank to Get Free Health Care in Jail

Richard James Verone of Charlotte, North Carolina says he robbed an RBC bank last Thursday for medical reasons.

Verone, 59, said in an interview with NBC affiliate KUSA-TV that he had no gun at the time and gave a note to the teller.

The note said this is a bank robbery. Please only give me one dollar, Verone said.

After that he says he walked away from the teller and said would sit in a chair and wait for police to come.

Verone said he asked for $1 to show that his motives were medical, not monetary.

Verone said he does not have medical insurance and has some sort of growth on his chest, two ruptured disks, and a problem with his left foot, according to the report. He said he doesn't have a job and has a depleted bank account.

He said he thought jail would be the best place to get medical attention.

I'm sort of a logical person and that was my logic, what I came up with, Verone said. If it is called manipulation, then out of necessity because I need medical care, then I guess I am manipulating the courts to get medical care.

Police charged Verone with larceny, not robbery, because he only demanded one dollar and did not have a weapon.