Alaska Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery Using Religious Language

Deshalon Bosha Jelks, a 37-year-old Alaska resident, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a single count of credit union robbery. The charges stem from a February 26, 2026, incident at an Anchorage Credit Union 1 branch, where Jelks presented a note to a teller claiming he was armed with the “power and authority of Jesus Christ.”

Following the robbery, police tracked Jelks to a nearby retail store, where they recovered $1,701 and a tracking device. While Jelks initially denied possessing a weapon or receiving funds, investigators reported that he admitted to entering the bank and demanding money. Authorities stated that phone records indicated Jelks was attempting to purchase methamphetamine at the time of the incident. Jelks, who was wearing an ankle monitor during his arrest, is scheduled for sentencing on January 21, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.