The “Deposit Slip Bandit” who robbed a Chula Vista bank by writing demand notes on deposit slips was sentenced Monday to three years in federal prison.
Sened Beyene Michael, 22, of Emerald Hills, was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez to pay $10,037 which includes thefts from two other banks.
Benitez allowed Michael to remain free on $30,000 bond until he self-surrenders by Nov. 3. He currently works at a National City car wash and his attorney said he will able to return to that job after his prison term ends.
His attorney, Carolyn Oliver, told the judge Michael was intoxicated when he committed the bank robberies.
Michael pleaded guilty to holding up the Banner Bank, 279 F St. in Chula Vista on Feb. 16 and taking $960.
The demand note said “I have a gun just give me the money, 100’s, 50’s and 20’s.”
Oliver read Michael’s letter to the judge after saying he “was scared to read it” and talked about pressures from his estranged parents to constantly give them money for family expenses.
“I’m improving since I’ve been in therapy,” wrote Michael.
The judge said he noticed the word “scared” was mentioned in Michael’s letter several times.
“I bet when you use the word scared, it doesn’t even come close to what the bank tellers (felt),” said Benitez.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Brehm asked for a 33-month sentence while the federal probation department sought the three years that he received. Oliver asked for two years.
Two other robberies occurred at a bank on Federal Boulevard and the first one was in Pacific Beach on Nov. 28, 2016. Michael used to work as a bank teller in 2015.
The FBI put out surveillance photos of the robber through Crime Stoppers with a $1,000 reward. A tipster said the robber looked like one man who was currently in prison and turned out to be Michael’s brother. They look similar to each other, according to records.
Agents also conducted surveillance on the blue Nissan Versa. Michael drove and interviewed people who knew him before his March 21 arrest.
