Guilty Plea Entered in Colman Bank Robbery

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Sean Cavanaugh, age 29, of Conrad, Iowa, appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on May 2, 2011, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with bank robbery. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

On September 23, 2010, Sean Cavanaugh entered the Home Federal Bank in Colman, South Dakota, intent on committing a robbery. Cavanaugh produced a demand note informing the teller that it was a robbery and received over $3,000 in cash. Included in the cash that he received was bank "bait money." Cavanaugh fled the scene and attempted to elude police officers with his vehicle. Spike strips were eventually placed across the road which disabled the car that Cavanaugh was driving. Cavanaugh was arrested and the money, including the "bait money," was found in his vehicle. The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Wright.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for July 19, 2011. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.