Brooklyn Park Man Sentenced for Robbing Credit Union

A 44-year-old Brooklyn Park man was sentenced earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis for robbing the Minnesota Building Trades Federal Credit Union in Inver Grove Heights on October 8, 2009. United States District Court Judge Joan N. Ericksen sentenced Herman Wilson to 71 months in prison on one count of bank robbery. Wilson was indicted on February 16, 2010, and pleaded guilty on May 12, 2010.

In his plea agreement, Wilson admitted stealing $21,459 from the credit union. He also admitted wearing a disguise that included a hooded sweatshirt, a construction vest, gloves, goggles, and a surgical mask. Moreover, he admitted brandishing a gun during the robbery and threatening to kill tellers if they didn’t provide him with money.

According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, the credit union was robbed at 9:30 a.m. on October 8 by a lone man. Employees at the credit union supplied police with a description of the robber as well as the get-away car, which reportedly was first spotted near the credit union on October 5, 2009.

On December 2, 2009, a search warrant was executed at Wilson’s home, where authorities recovered goggles similar to those worn during the robbery. Wilson’s vehicle, which was also at the house, matched the description of the get-away car. Wilson, who was at the home at the time of the search, attempted to flee but was apprehended and arrested.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Inver Grove Heights Police Department, with assistance from the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Brooklyn Park Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Paulsen.