Man Robs Bank and Demands $1 Just to Get Free Health Care in Jail

“I prepared myself for this,” James Richard Verone told the Gaston Gazette from behind a thick, glass window at the Gaston County Jail last week. But the jail might as well be called Verone's free ticket to health care. At least that's how he's treating it, and why he decided to rob a bank to get there.

See, Verone lost his job with Coca-Cola a few years ago and eventually became a convenience story clerk. That led to some aches and pains, a limp, and major pain once his arthritis flared up. He also found a protrusion in his chest. He went to see if he qualified for disability, but he didn't, only food stamps. He didn't want to burden his family with taking care of him, so he decided to do the next best thing -- get you, the taxpayer, to pay for him. How's that done? By robbing a bank, getting sent to jail, and getting free food, shelter, and medical care.

So he did. But there's a catch: when he showed up to pull of the heist, he only demanded $1.

The Gaston Gazette describes the crime:

Then he had another idea: commit a crime and get set up with a place to stay, food and doctors.

He started planning.

As his bank account depleted and the day of execution got closer, Verone sold and donated his furniture. He paid his last month’s rent and gave his notice.

He moved into the Hampton Inn for the last couple of days. Then on June 9 he followed his typical morning routine of getting ready for the day.

He took a cab down New Hope Road and picked a bank at random — RBC Bank.

Verone didn’t want to scare anyone. He executed the robbery the most passive way he knew how.

He handed the teller a note demanding one dollar, and medical attention.

“I didn’t have any fears,” said Verone. “I told the teller that I would sit over here and wait for police.”

The teller, however, did have some fears even though Verone never showed a weapon.

Her blood pressure shot up and once Verone was handcuffed by police, the teller was taken to Gaston Memorial Hospital to be checked out.

Verone said he was sorry for causing the woman any pain.

Because he only demanded $1, Verone has only been charged with larceny instead of bank robbery. Although that's still a felony, it could carry less time in jail -- something Verone worries about.

Still, he has a plan if he gets off easy: he'll rob a bank again.

“If I had not exercised all the alternatives I would be sitting here saying, ‘Man I feel bad about it,’” he told the Gazette.

“I knew that a felony would not hurt me. I cannot work anymore,” he said. “That felony is going to hurt my reputation.”

(H/T: Gawker)