Emporium Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury

Thomas Smith of Emporium has been indicted by a federal grand jury. A two count indictment was handed down yesterday and announced by the US Attorney's Office in Williamsport. Locally charges against the 58 year old are expected to be withdrawn in the near future as the case will be handed over to the FBI.  It was back in August that Smith allegedly held a bank employee at gunpoint forcing her to drive her vehicle in a kidnapping attempt. The woman crashed it instead and Smith took off. Investigators say shortly before the alledged incident the bank was involved in forclosure proceedings on his house. He had been sought since then and was finally taken into custody earlier this week.  If convicted on the charges Smith faces from 7 to life in prison.