Man Facing Federal Charge After St. Cloud Bank Robbery, Hostage-Taking
A Waite Park, Minn., man accused of holding five people hostage inside a Wells Fargo bank branch in St. Cloud for more than eight hours last week has been indicted on a federal charge of bank robbery, facing a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Ray Reco McNeary, 35, came into the bank on Thursday, May 6, and told staff that there was fraud on his account, according to court documents. After the bank manager was unable to locate any accounts belonging to McNeary, he allegedly became enraged and demanded that $60,000 in cash be taken from the vault and placed in a bank bag. The bank manager activated the silent panic alarm, notifying law enforcement of a problem at the bank.
PREVIOUSLY: Suspect in Custody, Hostages Safe After St. Cloud Bank Robbery
Five employees of the bank were held hostage for more than eight hours, with McNeary allegedly holding a pair of scissors against the bank manager’s neck and back several times. FBI hostage negotiators spoke with him repeatedly through the incident and four of the employees were eventually allowed by McNeary to leave the bank. The standoff ended just before 10:30 p.m., when the bank manager fled through the front door and law enforcement moved in, arresting McNeary without incident.
If convicted on the new charge of bank robbery, McNeary faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.