A Jacksonville man with a lengthy criminal history will spend the next 20 years behind bars after being sentenced in federal court for robbing a Jacksonville bank, marking the second time he has been convicted of a federal bank robbery offense.
Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced that Bob Pilletto Best, 60, of Jacksonville, was sentenced Thursday, July 16, 2026, by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker to 240 months (20 years) in federal prison.
Best pleaded guilty on January 8, 2026, to one count of bank robbery after being indicted by a federal grand jury on April 1, 2025.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Baker ordered Best to serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration and to pay restitution totaling $5,300 to First Arkansas Bank & Trust, representing the amount stolen during the robbery. Because the case was prosecuted in federal court, there is no parole in the federal prison system.
Robbery at First Arkansas Bank & Trust
According to court records, the robbery occurred on February 6, 2025, when officers with the Jacksonville Police Department responded to First Arkansas Bank & Trust after receiving reports that the bank had just been robbed.
Investigators say Best entered the bank lobby and initially appeared to be searching for a deposit slip. After a teller informed him the bank no longer used paper deposit slips and offered assistance at a teller window, Best approached the counter with one hand tucked beneath his arm.
Authorities said Best then told the teller he had a firearm and demanded all of the $50 and $100 bills from the cash drawer.
Fearing for her safety, the teller handed over $5,300 in cash. Best immediately fled through the bank’s front entrance.
Arrest and Confession
Jacksonville police officers searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate Best immediately after the robbery.
The following day, February 7, 2025, investigators received information that Best might be staying at an apartment in Little Rock.
When officers arrived, Best answered the door and reportedly told officers:
“I was the one who robbed the bank.”
Authorities said Best later repeated that admission during a formal interview with investigators.
Lengthy Criminal Record
Federal prosecutors noted that this was not Best’s first bank robbery conviction.
In 2005, Best was convicted of federal bank robbery in Michigan and received a 170-month federal prison sentence.
Court records also show he has previous felony convictions for:
Armed robbery
Assault on a prison employee
Second-degree forgery
Forgery
Theft by receiving
Those prior convictions were considered during sentencing.
Investigation
The case was investigated jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Jacksonville Police Department.
United States Attorney Jonathan D. Ross announced the sentencing on behalf of the Eastern District of Arkansas.
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