St. Cloud Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing TCF Bank

A 23-year-old St. Cloud man pled guilty earlier today in federal court in Duluth to robbing a St. Cloud TCF bank on May 5, 2010. Appearing before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis, Salamo Nam Rakotojoelinandrasana pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. He was indicted on May 19, 2010.

In his plea agreement, Rakotojoelinandrasana admitted that on May 5, he stole $6,053 from the bank. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, a man, later identified as Rakotojoelinandrasana, entered the bank after 6:30 p.m. on May 5. He displayed a handgun and demanded money. After receiving cash, along with a concealed dye pack, he exited through the bank’s rear door.

On May 10, 2010, Rakotojoelinandrasana was arrested after he was observed inserting dyestained money into slot machines at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake. While executing a search warrant at Rakotojoelinandrasana’s residence, officers found clothing identical to that worn by the robber. In his vehicle, they also found $2,304 in dye-stained cash and an air pistol.

For his crime, Rakotojoelinandrasana faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Judge Davis will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

This case is the result of an investigation by the St. Cloud Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Prior Lake Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie E. Allyn.