Anchorage Man Found Guilty of September 2018 Bank Robbery

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that an Anchorage man was found guilty of one count of credit union robbery, in connection with the September 2018 robbery of Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, located at 500 West 36th Avenue in Anchorage. 

Eyob Eric Stewart Imlach, 23, of Anchorage, was convicted by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason after a bench trial lasting a little over one day.  As a result of his conviction, Imlach faces a maximum penalty of up to twenty years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.  The sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 4, 2019.

According to evidence presented at trial, on Sept. 6, 2018, Imlach entered Alaska USA at approximately 12:24 pm, wearing a dark parka with the hood pulled over his head and carrying a backpack.  After entering the credit union, Imlach approached a teller and wrote a note on the back of a check that had his name and address, which read “Give me all the $.”  The teller did not immediately give cash to Imlach, so he passed the note to a second teller.  Imlach received approximately $1,778 from the second teller, and then left the credit union with the money. 

After the robbery, an Alaska USA employee observed Imlach walk across the parking lot along W. 36th Avenue and enter the Qupqugiag Inn.  Within minutes, APD officers surrounded the Inn and entered the building.  Imlach tried to flee by opening a window and climbing out onto a deck; however, officers positioned on that side of the building immediately detained him.  Officers recovered Imlach’s backpack, which was located in a black garbage bag inside the Inn and near the window he climbed out of.  Also recovered were numerous bills in different denominations of U.S. currency scattered around common areas of the Inn, including inside a small refrigerator.   

FBI agents searched Imlach’s backpack and recovered the note used to commit the robbery, clothing worn during the robbery, and U.S. currency.  The investigation further revealed that, about an hour before the robbery, Imlach had drawn attention inside the ASRC building located near Alaska USA, after trying to seek access to suites on the floors above the main lobby.  Imlach was denied access but refused to leave the building.  APD was called, and they subsequently escorted Imlach out of the building. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Corso and Charisse Arce.