Four Minneapolis Men Sentenced for Robbing the Same Bank Three Times
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 27, 2010 |
The last of four Minneapolis men was sentenced earlier today in federal court for robbing the same US Bank on three separate occasions last year. In Minneapolis, United States District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced Michael Deon Hughes, age 24, to 110 months in prison on three counts of bank robbery and one count of carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Hughes was indicted, along with three co-defendants, on November 10, 2009, and pleaded guilty on January 7, 2010.
In his plea agreement, Hughes admitted stealing $5,710 from the bank, which is located at 4930 34th Avenue South in Minneapolis, on April 13, 2009. He also admitted brandishing a revolver during that robbery. In addition, he admitted stealing $4,371 from the same bank on May 8, 2009, and another $5,341 from the bank on July 28, 2009, while armed both times.
Following today’s sentencing, Ralph S. Boelter, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Minneapolis Field Office, said, “The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to pursue those who engage in violent criminal acts, as the defendants in this case have done.”
Yesterday, Judge Schiltz sentenced Hughes’ co-defendant, Nathan Lamar Stewart, age 21, to 204 months in prison on three counts of bank robbery and one count of carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. He pleaded guilty on April 28, 2010.
In his plea agreement, Stewart admitted that he and co-defendant Curtis Devone Williams, age 24, along with Hughes, forcibly stole $5,710 from the bank on April 13, 2009. In the takeover-style robbery, during which Stewart was masked, the men used a gun to intimidate others, especially bank tellers, into following their instructions. The plea agreement states that while Hughes actually brandished the weapon, Stewart was fully aware that a gun would be used during the commission of the crime. Stewart also admitted that on May 28, 2009, he was found in possession of that gun, a Ruger 44-caliber Magnum Super Blackhawk revolver.
In entering his plea, Stewart further admitted that on May 8, 2009, he, Williams, and Hughes once more forcibly took money from the bank; in that case, $4,371. He also admitted that as in the earlier robbery, Hughes brandished the 44-caliber revolver, but, again, he knew the gun would be used.
Finally, Stewart admitted that on July 28, 2009, the three men, along with D’Arco Kellum, age 23, forcibly stole $5,341 from the bank. During that robbery, Hughes was armed with what appeared to be a rifle.
Kellum pleaded guilty on December 22, 2009. In entering his plea, Kellum admitted the men used a dangerous weapon in the commission of the July 28, 2009, robbery. Williams, who also pleaded guilty on December 22, 2009, admitted participating in the April 13, 2009, robbery. In addition, he admitted that during that robbery, he knew Hughes was carrying a gun to aid in the crime. That knowledge is the basis for the firearms charge against him.
On October 20, 2010, Judge Schiltz sentenced Kellum to 38 months in prison on one count of bank robbery. Williams was ordered to serve 70 months in prison on one count of bank robbery and one count of carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp.