FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 27, 2007
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nd/

Tioga Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery

MINOT - United States Attorney Drew H. Wrigley announced that on November 26, 2007, Brent A. Moe, 35, of Tioga, North Dakota, was sentenced before United States District Court Chief Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of robbery and a charge of use or carry a firearm during a crime of violence. Moe was found guilty by a federal jury on August 30, 2007.

On January 24, 2007, co-defendant Justin D. Rieniets, 23, Tioga, North Dakota, entered the Ray Cooperative Credit Union, Ray, North Dakota, pointed a small handgun at the teller and demanded money. Rieniets obtained approximately $7,500 in cash and left the area on a snowmobile. Moe was charged as an aider and abettor of this conduct. Moe had provided Rieniets with the handgun, ammunition, and snowmobile to perform the robbery, and received approximately $2,000 of the robbery proceeds from Rieniets for his assistance.

Rieniets pled guilty on April 24, 2007, to the charge of robbery and a charge of use or carry a firearm during a crime of violence. Judge Hovland sentenced Rieniets on September 5, 2007, to eight years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Rieniets was ordered to pay restitution for the amount of cash not recovered in the amount of $1,390.00 and to pay a $200 special assessment

Judge Hovland sentenced Moe to serve 10 years and 5 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Moe was ordered to pay restitution of $1,390.00 and to pay a $200 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Williams County Sheriff’s Department, Tioga Police Department, and North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Rick Volk prosecuted the case.