Area Man Charged Federally for Robbing Waverly Bank

Minneapolis - A local man who recently robbed a Waverly, Minnesota, bank at gun point was indicted today by a federal grand jury for that crime. Ronald Howard Cleveland, Jr., age 27, of Osseo, Minnesota, was charged with the July 14, 2006, robbery of the Citizen's State Bank of Waverly.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, Cleveland entered the Citizen's State Bank around 12:32 p.m. He allegedly pulled out a handgun, held it in the air, and yelled to everyone, "get down." The complaint states that Cleveland then ordered a teller to "give him the money." As the teller carried out his instructions, Cleveland allegedly warned he had "an itchy finger." Immediately after Cleveland left the bank, witnesses spotted a red Nissan leaving the scene and noted the license plate number. Authorities soon determined the vehicle belonged to a local used car dealer, who had allowed Cleveland, an employee, to borrow it. The car was later found in a shed routinely utilized by Cleveland. Investigators then obtained a warrant to search the vehicle. During their search, they found a sweatshirt that matched the description of the sweatshirt worn by the robber as well as an air pistol that matched the description of the gun brandished by the robber.

The complaint indicates that a law enforcement officer subsequently telephoned the person who lived on the premises where the shed was located. That person was related to Cleveland. Later, when Cleveland learned that an officer had called his relative regarding him, he allegedly fled the vicinity. Prior to fleeing, however, the complaint states that Cleveland took a large amount of the cash obtained during the robbery and hid it under the rear seat of his relative's automobile. He also allegedly left instructions that money be sent to him in jail. The money hidden in the relative's car was recovered pursuant to the execution of another search warrant. Cleveland was arrested on August 1, 2006, in California, and he continues to be held in jail without bond.

If convicted, Cleveland faces a maximum potential penalty of 25 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence will be determined by a judge.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wright County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle E. Jones.

An Indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by the defendants. The defendants, of course, are presumed innocent until they plead guilty or are proven guilty at trial.

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