Federal Jury Convicts Mankato Man in Connection with Minnesota State University Credit Union Robbery

MINNEAPOLIS—Late yesterday, a federal court jury found a 23-year-old Mankato man guilty of driving the getaway car for the December 16, 2010, robbery of the Affinity Plus Credit Union on the Minnesota State University campus in Mankato. Following a three-day trial, the jury convicted Anthony Akiti on one count of armed credit union robbery and one count of obstruction of justice. Akiti was charged in a superseding indictment on May 2, 2011. According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, on December 16, 2010, Akiti drove the getaway car while co-defendant Chop Nguot Tang stole $17,078.51 at gunpoint from the credit union. Akiti then concealed a portion of the robbery proceeds in his apartment, and after he was arrested, he directed his wife to get rid of the money.

A law enforcement affidavit filed in the case indicates that during the robbery, Chop Nguot Tang approached a teller, showed her a handgun and demanded money. Next, he went to two other tellers, again demanding cash. Upon receiving the money, he stuffed it into a black bag and left the premises on foot. Responding to the robbery call, police followed a set of footprints in the snow to an apartment complex. There, witnesses told them they had seen a man running down a nearby hill to a white Cadillac. The man threw a black bag into the vehicle, jumped in, and the car drove away. Police later learned that Akiati owned the vehicle. They arrested him at his residence. Tang was arrested on December 22, 2010.

On April 8, 2011, Tang, age 23, also of Mankato, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery. He was indicted on February 8, 2011. In his plea agreement, Tang admitted stealing $17,078.51 from the credit union while brandishing a handgun.

For his crime, Akiti faces a potential maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Tang faces a potential maximum penalty of 25 years. United States District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz will determine their sentences at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Mankato Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly M. Hare.