Crime & Safety

Fridley Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Robbing Local TCF Bank

Joe Nathan Michael, 48, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing $1,991.

Fridley's Joe Nathan Michael, 48, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday for robbing a Fridley TCF bank on .

According to a statement from the US Department of Justice, District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis sentenced Michael to one count of bank robbery after he admitted stealing $1,991 from the . 

According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, the robber, later identified as Michael, entered the bank and gave a teller a demand note that read, “Give money, I gun.”

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Michael pretended to have a gun in his pocket and threatened to shoot the bank teller if she sounded an alarm.  

Responding to the robbery, Fridley police saw Michael standing near a bus stop at the intersection of 57th Avenue Northeast and University Avenue. His clothing matched that worn by the robber, so they converged on him.

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Fridley police and the FBI worked together on the investigation. Fridley Lt. Mike Monsrud said his department is pleased with the outcome of the case.

"The successful prosecution of this case was made possible by the excellent observation skills of the first responding officers" who spotted Michael moment after he left the bank, Monsrud said in an email after apprehending Michael. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad Blumenfield and Erika Mozangue.


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