A ruthless bank bandit was brought to justice, but not before leaving a trail of blood and loot in his wake. Lyle “Ty” Hoffman, 45, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for his role in an armed bank robbery in Blaine, Minnesota.
According to court documents, Hoffman pleaded guilty on July 8, 2015, to the armed bank robbery, which occurred on August 31, 2014. During the heist, Hoffman, wearing a blue baseball cap and sunglasses, stormed into the TCF Bank branch on County Road 10 and demanded cash from a teller. When the teller refused to comply, Hoffman pulled out a handgun from his backpack and pointed it at the teller, before making off with approximately $12,020.
But Hoffman’s troubles didn’t end there. The law caught up with him after he murdered his former partner, Kelly Phillips, at a gas station in Arden Hills, Minnesota, on August 11, 2014. Following a series of tips from law enforcement, Hoffman was eventually arrested on September 11, 2014, after walking through the drive-thru lawn of an Arby’s restaurant in Shakopee, Minnesota. At the time of his arrest, Hoffman had over $3,000 in dye-stained cash on him.
Hoffman’s crimes were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Blaine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Ueland prosecuted the case.
The case was a stark reminder of the dangers of bank robbery and the importance of law enforcement’s tireless efforts to bring perpetrators to justice. As one law enforcement official noted, “Bank robbery is a serious crime that can have devastating consequences for the victims and the community.”
Hoffman’s case serves as a warning to would-be bank robbers: the consequences of their actions can be severe and long-lasting. In this case, Hoffman will spend 57 months behind bars for his crimes.
Defendant Information:
LYLE “TY” HOFFMAN, 45
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Convicted:
Armed bank robbery, one count
Sentenced:
57 months in prison
Crime Date:
August 31, 2014
Arrest Date:
September 11, 2014
Sentencing Date:
Today
Amount Stolen:
$12,020
Related Federal Cases
- Jeffrey Haydock, Bank Robbery, IA, 2023 · Iowa
- Darryl S. Coleman, Bank Robbery, Illinois 2015 · Illinois
- David William Giese, Bank Robbery, South Dakota 2016 · Washington
- William Johnson, Murder and RICO Conspiracy, Minnesota 2023 · Washington
- Dantrell Johnson, RICO Conspiracy, Minnesota 2023 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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