Iowa Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Dubuque, Iowa, man convicted of Bank Robbery was sentenced on December 6, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Phillip Christopher Hanten, age 40, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Hanten was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 2, 2021.  He pled guilty on September 15, 2021.

The conviction stemmed from an incident on May 8, 2021, when Hanten robbed a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Sioux Falls.  Hanten, wearing dark clothing and a COVID mask, passed a note to the teller demanding $2,000 in large bills.  The teller gave Hanten 19 $100 bills and five $20 bills.  He put the money in the pouch of his hoodie sweatshirt and fled the bank.  He was caught by a Sioux Falls police officer within minutes and all the cash was recovered.

This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.

Hanten was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.