Fridley Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing a TCF Bank

Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, a 48-year-old Fridley man pleaded guilty to robbing a Fridley TCF bank on May 27, 2010. Joe Nathan Michael pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. Michael, who was indicted on June 23, 2010, entered his plea before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis.

In the plea agreement, Michael admitted that he stole $1,991 from the bank, located at

250 57th Avenue Northeast

in Fridley. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, the robber, later identified as Michael, entered the bank and gave a teller a demand note that read, “Give money, I gun.” As the teller attempted to unlock the cash drawer, Michael warned her not to push any alarms. He also put his left hand in his jacket pocket, as if to indicate he had a gun. He then said, “Do you want me to shoot you?” The teller eventually opened the drawer and gave Michael the cash, which he stuffed in his jacket before leaving the bank.

Responding to the robbery, Fridley police saw Michael standing near a bus stop at the intersection of 57th and University Avenues. His clothing matched that worn by the robber, so they converged on him. In the process of apprehending him, money fell from his jacket pockets.

For his crime, Michael faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Judge Davis will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Fridley Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad Blumenfield and Erika Mozangue.