Crime & Safety
Mark Wetsch Admits to 'Man in Black' Robberies, Including in Richfield
A plea agreement would put Wetsch behind bars for 14 years. He admitted to robbing First National Bank of the Lakes and trying to rob Richfield Bloomington Credit Union twice—among 28 other robberies in Minnesota.
The man authorities say was the 'Man in Black' pled guilty Monday to five Minnesota bank robberies in 2011 and admitted to 25 others—including one in Richfield and two attempts in Bloomington.
Mark Wetsch had previously pled guilty to one 2012 bank robbery in Brewster, MN that led to his arrest.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for Minnesota, Wetsch admitted "he wore a black mask and brandished a firearm believed to be real. Wetsch stole $9,350 from the First National Bank in Hastings on December 27, 2011; $3,634 from the Wells Federal Bank in St. Peter on December 22, 2011; $3,801 from the Premier Bank in Albertville on November 9, 2011; $9,445 from the Merchants Bank in Hampton on May 13, 2011; and $3,050 from the United Educators Credit Union in Eden Prairie on April 26, 2011."
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Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of 14 years.
Among the incidents for which Wetsch is not charged but prosecutors said he has confessed to are attempted robberies at the Bloomington location of Richfield Bloomington Credit Union on April 26 and , and First National Bank of the Lakes on
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Wetsch also admitted to 22 other bank robberies that brought the total amount of money he stole to more than $110,000:
December 29, 2011 Glenwood State Bank of Alexandria $3,200 December 20, 2011 Franklin Bank of Minneapolis $2,350 December 14, 2011 M&I Bank of St. Paul $1,645 December 7, 2011 Premier Bank of Bloomington $850 December 5, 2011 US Bank of Hopkins $3,106 November 30, 2011 Central Bank of Minneapolis $803 November 22, 2011 Bremer Bank of Minneapolis $2,907 November 13, 2011 TCF Bank of Arden Hills $4,900 November 1, 2011 Paragon Bank of Shakopee $1,444 October 22, 2011 Prior Lake State Bank, Prior Lake $7,200 June 13, 2011 First National Bank of Minnesota of Gaylord $6,946 June 3, 2011 Sherburne State Bank, Clear Lake $3,000 April 26, 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, Faribault $2,225 April 14, 2011 US Federal Credit Union of Northfield $5,280 April 11, 2011 Sterling State Bank of Savage $1,885 March 9, 2011 Klein Bank of Cologne $11,400 March 7, 2011 Bremer Bank of Minneapolis $2,030 February 17, 2011 First National Bank of Orono $4,000 February 10, 2011 United Educators Credit Union of Columbia Heights $1,500 February 9, 2011 US Bank of St. Paul $1,000 February 4, 2011 Central Bank of Minneapolis $1,056 January 11, 2011 Bremer Bank of Minneapolis $6,000***
Related at Richfield Patch:
- 'Man in Black' Accused of 13 Bank Robberies Pleads Guilty to One
- Nobles County Drops Charges Against Alleged Richfield Bank Robber
- FBI Continues 'Man in Black' Investigation
- 'Man in Black' Suspect Charged in Nobles County
- Richfield Bank Robberies Could Be Linked to Others
- Attempted Bank Robbery at Richfield Bloomington Credit Union
- Bank Robber Matching Richfield Thief's Description Strikes Again
- Richfield Bank Robbed at Gunpoint
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