A 30-year-old Cottage Grove woman who admitted to robbing a Maplewood bank last year was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison.
Ma Myrrelli Juanillo Asuncion, who said at the time she was forced to rob the bank or her children would be harmed, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge David S. Doty on one count of bank robbery.
Under a plea agreement, Asuncion admitted stealing $2,487 from a Wells Fargo bank at 2945 White Bear Av. on Aug. 29, 2009, and making up the story about the threat to her children. Asuncion was indicted last September and pleaded guilty Jan. 21.
According to an affidavit, Asuncion entered the bank alone and passed a teller a note saying she needed $15,000 or her children would be harmed. The teller complied, giving Asuncion all the money in the teller drawer. Asuncion then handed the teller another note with a false name, apologizing and saying she was being forced to commit the robbery.
She fled the bank on foot and surrendered to the FBI in Minneapolis the next day.
JIM ANDERSON
