'Man in black' robber admits to 31 Minnesota bank heists

May 7, 2013 at 2:23AM

A Minneapolis man dubbed the "Man in Black" bank robber pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in St. Paul to five bank heists and admitted robbing 25 others.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will seek a 14-year prison sentence for Mark Edward Wetsch, 49.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson will decide the sentence at a later date.

Last month, Wetsch pleaded guilty to robbing a bank in Brewster, Minn.

On Monday, he pleaded guilty to five robberies that occurred during 2011 in St. Peter, Hastings, Albertville, Hampton and Eden Prairie.

In each case, he admitted to wearing a black mask and brandishing a firearm that was believed to be real.

He also admitted robbing 25 other banks.

Wetsch said he took more than $110,000 in the 31 robberies.

Mary Lynn Smith

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