Bethalto bank employee sentenced for staging fake heist

The manager of a metro-east bank who recruited a friend to commit a robbery there in 2014 was sentenced in federal court Friday.

Matthew S. Liebheit, 40, of Moro, will spend more than three years in prison.

A judge handed down the 41-month sentence after a jury convicted Liebheit on two theft charges and a charge of making false bank entries.

Court papers say Liebheit convinced his friend, identified as Eugene Babcock, to “rob” Liberty Bank at 333 West Bethalto Drive the morning of Dec. 13. Babcock came armed with a BB-gun and “forced” Liebheit to give him $280,000 in cash from the bank’s vault.

Police learned Liebheit’s own truck was used as the getaway vehicle.

In addition to serving prison time, Liebheit was ordered to pay $140,862 in restitution and a $300 special fee.

Babcock also pleaded guilty to charges related to the fake heist. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 30.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 6:27 PM with the headline "Bethalto bank employee sentenced for staging fake heist."