Bancroft Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery

Acting United States Attorney Robert C. Stuart announced that Lenn W. Zuhlke, age 55, of Bancroft, Nebraska, pled guilty earlier this week, in front of the Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, to bank robbery.  His sentencing is set for March 19, 2018, at which time he faces 20 year’s imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. 

On April 20, 2017, Jeffrey Bonneau parked an ATV on the sidewalk in front of the First Bank of Bancroft.  While wearing a dark motorcycle helmet and camouflage clothing, he went into the bank, around the teller counter and demanded money from a teller, while pushing her aside.  He fled the bank with $6745.00.  He was arrested a short time later in a grove area near 2345 R Road after he rolled the ATV.

Officers located a .22 caliber Beretta pistol, his helmet, the camouflage clothing and approximately $5225.00.  Bonneau had marijuana and methamphetamine in his system when he was arrested.  The ATV he drove had been stolen earlier in the day.

Zuhlke drove Bonneau to pick up the ATV, knew Bonneau was going to rob the bank and was waiting to pick Bonneau up after the robbery, before he crashed the ATV.  Zuhlke pled guilty to the bank robbery as an aider and abettor. 

Bonneau previously pled guilty to the bank robbery and possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced February 26.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nebraska State Patrol, Bancroft Police Department, and Cuming County Sheriff’s Department.