Minneapolis Man Sentenced For Bank Robbery

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 51-year-old Minneapolis man was sentenced for robbing the TCF Bank on West Lake Street in Minneapolis. United States District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced Phillip Leo Nietz to 151 months on one count of bank robbery, as well as three other bank robberies Nietz admitted in his plea agreement to also having committed. Nietz was indicted on October 10, 2012, and pleaded guilty on January 11, 2013. Nietz was ordered to pay restitution to the bank he had robbed.

In his plea agreement, Nietz admitted that on August 22, 2012, he walked into the West Lake Street branch of TCF Bank and gave a teller a note demanding money. He took approximately $3,794, placed it in a black bag, and left the premises on foot.

Nietz also admitted to robbing the three other banks in the same manner: a U.S. Bank in Roseville on August 14, 2012, where he stole $1,047; a Wells Fargo in St. Paul on August 28, 2012, where he stole $7,389; and a U.S. Bank in St. Paul on September 13, 2012, where he stole $1,045.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.