Isabella man sentenced for Two Harbors bank robbery

An Isabella man will serve more than nine years in federal prison for robbing the Lake Bank in Two Harbors on Christmas Eve last year.

Robert Kenneth Moore, 25, was sentenced today in federal court in Duluth to 112 months in prison. He had faced a maximum penalty of 20 years.

Moore pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery in U.S. district court in Minneapolis on March 28, admitting that he stole about $6,669 from the bank.

Moore originally was charged in state district court in Lake County for the robbery. According to the state criminal complaint, the bank teller described how a man came up to her window and “displayed a note to her saying that the male had a gun and that the teller was to give the individual all the money she had, that she was to be quiet and was advised not to put any dyes in the bag.”

The teller said she placed $180 worth of “bait money” — bills that the bank photocopies and keeps serial number records on — into the Lake Bank bag that she also filled with the rest of the money in her till. She said “she was shaking because she was so afraid.”

On Christmas Day, the Two Harbors Police Department received a tip that the robber was in an apartment in Proctor. At 1:15 a.m. that day officers were allowed in the apartment, where they found Moore hiding in the bathroom. Authorities also discovered cash sealed in the Lake Bank strap.

Moore was indicted on the federal charge on Jan. 24.

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