A man who robbed the LaPorte Savings Bank in April was recently sentenced in U.S. District Court.
David Ziesel of Elburn was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in federal prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of Aggravated Bank Robbery.
In a plea agreement, Ziesel admitted that he entered the LaPorte Savings Bank with the intent to rob the bank. He walked up to the teller counter, pointed a gun at the teller, and demanded money. He told the teller and three others to get on the ground with the gun pointed at them. Ziesel then jumped over the counter and went into the vault, where he found two other employees. He showed the gun to the employees, demanded money, and then fled the bank. A pursuit with police ensued and Ziesel threw the money out of the car window along with the gun he used and the clothing he wore during the robbery. A LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department vehicle was damaged during the pursuit.
As part of the plea agreement, Ziesel was ordered to pay $102,967.23 in restitution.
The FBI investigated the case.
