Federal grand jury indicts man for stealing from tornado victim

A federal grand jury indicted on ten counts of bank fraud and ten counts of identity theft after he allegedly stole a checkbook from a victim of the May 22 Joplin tornado and went on a three-state spending spree.

The indictment alleges Teddy Lane Lawson, 51, asked permission from "L. L." whose home on South Pennsylvania, was destroyed by the tornado, to remove scrap metal from her property.

While he was there, the indictment says, he helped himself to the woman's checkbook. Between July 5 and July 9, he wrote 20 checks to stores in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma for $2,960.95, forging L. L.'s signature.

Lane's arraignment is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 7 in Springfield.