Phillip Leo Nietz, Bank Robbery, Minnesota 2013

The streets of Minneapolis were shaken by a string of brazen bank robberies, but one man's reign of terror has finally come to an end. Phillip Leo Nietz, a 51-year-old Minneapolis man, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for robbing the TCF Bank on West Lake Street in Minneapolis.

The crimes, which took place in the summer of 2012, left a trail of fear and financial loss in their wake. Nietz, who pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery, as well as three other bank robberies, will also have to pay restitution to the bank he had robbed.

According to court documents, Nietz's modus operandi was to walk into a bank, hand a teller a note demanding money, and then leave the premises on foot with the stolen cash. In the case of the TCF Bank, Nietz made off with approximately $3,794 on August 22, 2012.

Nietz's other victims included U.S. Bank in Roseville, where he stole $1,047 on August 14, 2012; Wells Fargo in St. Paul, where he stole $7,389 on August 28, 2012; and another U.S. Bank in St. Paul, where he stole $1,045 on September 13, 2012.

Thanks to the tireless work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nietz's reign of terror finally came to an end. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez prosecuted the case, bringing Nietz to justice for his crimes.

Nietz's sentence serves as a reminder that bank robbery is a serious crime with serious consequences. We urge all citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

This case is a testament to the dedication and hard work of law enforcement to keep our communities safe.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/minneapolis-man-sentenced-bank-robbery