Investigators are trying to determine whether a man who is accused of robbing a South Jordan credit union had help from one of the branch's tellers.

South Jordan police arrested Jeffery Lyle Nay last Friday and booked him into jail on charges of aggravated robbery and obstruction of justice.

Police say on July 3, Nay's "good friend," 20-year-old Curtis Brad Cordery, entered the Goldenwest Credit Union, 3664 W. 10400 South, wearing a mask and gloves. According to federal charges filed last week in U.S. District Court, Cordery pulled out what tellers described as a black handgun and forced two tellers into the vault. Witnesses said Cordery took several stacks of bills but left a stack that contained the bank's bait money and dye pack.

Holding the gun to a teller's head, Cordery demanded his car keys and fled in the teller's car. The same car was found abandoned later that morning about a mile from the bank. Police found a black BB gun, which looked like a semi-automatic handgun, inside the car.

Cordery's wife reported her husband missing when he failed to show up for work on the day of the robbery. Police also learned that Cordery was friends with Nay.

After his wife reported his car also missing, police found Cordery's car parked near a hair salon in Ogden on July 5. The salon's manager told police that Cordery entered the business on July 3 and asked for a "complete makeover," including dying his bright red hair to dark black. He was last seen leaving the salon in a taxi cab.

Police searched another car, which Cordery and his wife both used, and found clothing and a black wig consistent with what the robbery suspect wore.

Nay has denied involvement in the robbery. According to the charges, on July 8, Nay received a phone call from Cordery, who said, "I know that they know it is me. I am not coming back." The call was traced to San Francisco.

Federal officials say Cordery remains a federal fugitive. He has been charged with one count of armed robbery and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

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E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com