Poorly written-note robber pleads guilty

MINNEAPOLIS, March 31 (UPI) -- A Minnesota man admitted in court to robbing a bank using a confusing demand note reading, "Give money, I gun."

Joe Nathan Michael, 48, of Fridley, pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Minneapolis federal court to the May 20, 2010, robbery at the TCF Bank inside of Cub Foods in Fridley, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported Thursday.

Investigators said the teller was confused by Michael's note until he verbally demanded money and put his hand inside his jacket pocket to indicate he was armed.

Michael left the bank with $1,991 in addition to recorded bait bills and a concealed electronic tracking device. He was arrested at a bus stop a short time after the robbery and the money was recovered. No weapon was found.

Michael has previous felony convictions for robbery and domestic assault and gross misdemeanor convictions for assault and domestic assault.