St. Cloud bank robber charged in federal court

The 35-year-old man accused of holding five bank employees hostage during a robbery in St. Cloud last week was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

Ray R. McNeary was arrested May 6 following a nearly nine-hour standoff at a Wells Fargo Bank on the west side of St. Cloud.

On May 7, he was charged in Stearns County District Court with seven felony counts.

An affidavit signed by an FBI agent alleges McNeary violated federal law by using force, violence or intimidation while taking money belonging to a financial institution.

According to the document:

McNeary went to the bank alleging fraud on his account and became enraged when the bank manager was unable to locate his account.

He then demanded $60,000 from the vault be placed in a bank bag and threatened the hostages. McNeary also repeatedly held a pair of scissors against the bank manager's back and neck.

The FBI communicated with McNeary using phone calls, written messages and loudspeakers. The hostages left the bank throughout the afternoon and evening, cheered by a crowd of people.

The last hostage, the manager, ran from the bank about 10:30 p.m. as teams from the FBI and St. Cloud Police Department rushed in.

An order filed Wednesday states McNeary will be in federal custody until final disposition of federal charges. No attorney is listed for McNeary on district or federal charges.

Jenny Berg • 612-673-7299

Twitter: @bergjenny