Grand Forks Man Sentenced to Life for Robbing the Bremer Bank in Gilby, North Dakota

FARGO—United States Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on September 6, 2011, Clifton M. Patterson of Grand Forks, North Dakota, was sentenced before United States District Court Judge Ralph R. Erickson on charges of bank robbery, aiding and abetting the use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Patterson had previously pled guilty to the bank robbery and was found guilty of the aiding and abetting the use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charges by a 12-person jury after a three-day trial on August 11, 2011.

Judge Erickson sentenced Patterson to 20 years in prison on the bank robbery. Judge Erickson also sentenced Patterson to 21 years and 10 months in prison on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, to run concurrently with the bank robbery sentence. Patterson was sentenced to life in prison on the charge of aiding and abetting the use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. This sentence was ordered to run consecutive to the other two sentences.

Patterson was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $89,755.32, and to pay a $300 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.

On May 26, 2009, the Bremer Bank in Gilby, North Dakota was robbed at gunpoint by Patterson and William Randall Collins. Upon entering the bank, Patterson brandished a black handgun and ordered the teller, “Get down on the ground, get down on your stomach.” He proceeded to shout to the teller, “Cover your head with your hands and don’t look.” The handgun Patterson used was left in the bank and later determined to be a Daisy CO2 pistol. Also during the robbery, Collins brandished a sawed off shotgun, specifically, a Mossberg, Model 88, 12-gauge shotgun, bearing serial number MN83602M. Patterson then removed a black plastic trash bag from a trash can located just outside the walk-in safe and filled it with cash from the vault. He also emptied the teller drawer of money. Patterson then located a land line telephone on a desk just outside the walk-in safe and ripped the telephone and cable from the wall. After he removed the telephone cable, Patterson ordered the teller to place her hands behind her back and to not look up at him.

Collins had previously pled guilty to bank robbery charges and was sentenced to serve 319 months in prison.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department, North Dakota Highway Patrol, and Grand Forks Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Keith Reisenauer prosecuted the case.