Unbelievable ...The two involved now face life imprisonment as repeat offenders. We'll see about that ...
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Two brothers are in jail awaiting trial for allegedly robbing a Grand Rapids bank after leaving a trail that resulted in their arrest.

Part of that trail was a robbery note written on a probation form from when one of the suspects was previously convicted of robbing a bank.

The Huntington Bank at 1949 44th St. SE, east of Kalamazoo Avenue, was robbed just after it opened on the morning of Oct. 25.

The robber handed a note to the teller that read: "This is a robbery. $50s and $20s. No dye pack. Put money in bag or we will harm. Praise Allah."

The bank teller who was handed the note told 24 Hour News 8 the experience had him frightened and he complied with the demand, giving him about $2,200.

When police came to investigate, they noticed the robbery note was written on the back of a federal probation office document.

The FBI became involved and investigators tracked the document to a probation office where 26-year-old Dominike Darnell Sterling's older brother Michael had an appointment on the date written on the document.

Police were also able to track the younger Sterling's cell phone, which showed he travelled from his home a half-mile away to the bank and that phone had been used to search information about how to perform bank robberies.

Police say the older Sterling acted as lookout for the robbery committed by his younger brother, who implied he had a gun.

Both brothers have previous robbery convictions from 2009 and both were on parole that was set to end within months.

Now, they face life in prison as repeat offenders. They were both in Grand Rapids District Court this week where their case was sent to felony court.

Both brothers are being held on a $275,000 bond.

Michael Sterling, the older brother, has to be extradited from custody in Pennsylvania while his younger brother is in the Kent County Jail.

quote:

that phone had been used to search information about how to perform bank robberies.

[sarcasm] It really chafes my ass when people do incomplete "how to" instructions/videos on the internet. How hard would it have been to say, "Don't write the note on a paper with your name on it?" [/sarcasm]

Real men of genius right there.

Dumb and Dumber, Part Deux. Based on a true story. Pass the popcorn.

A sterling example of stupid.

They didn't learn nuthin when they went to school.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
They didn't learn nuthin when they went to school.

They went to felon school (prison), but they probably skipped the day on not leaving your probation form at the scene of the crime.

When I was a corrections officer back in the day, I would just LOVE when the state attorney would show up, ask for Inmate Smith #12345, and hand them their HVFO form. The state has classified you as a habitual violent felony offender. That means your latest charge likely gets you 20-30 years in the big house. Enjoy your stay at the gray bar hotel! Minimum mandatory sentences with enhanced penalties. Brought a smile to my face.

they're getting a ride on the SHORT prison bus.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:
they're getting a ride on the SHORT prison bus.

...and licking the windows all the way.

Yep, real genius.

I handled a robbery at a small hair salon where the duffus left his id card on the counter. The address was from a city around 15 miles away form us, we contacted them and they went out to check the address... about an hour or so later they informed us that they had one in custody.

Had a guy leave his VA card in a car he stole.

They liked prison and wanted to go back home.

Saw an episode of "First 48" where the murderer left his Parole papers in the Victims car.. It is Amazing how Dumb most Criminals are.. Whatever happened to the Brilliant Con Man?

Watch "Locked Up" on Netflix streaming.

If you've ever felt a tad of sympathy for these people - you won't after watching their hideous, violent, antics.

Of course there is some pathos, not that I wish these guys were walking the streets.

Some of the guys are just plain, crazy and others with 2 digit I.Q's.

The biggest problem is they eventually let these scuzzies free.

To bad they can't let them parachute onto Snake Island and fend for themselves, ah, for as long as they live, which will be for an abbreviated time...

Absolutely love these stories.

My personal favorite involved a woman soldier who reported being raped.

She got separated from her ride back to her unit and a couple of American soldiers she didn’t know offered to take her there. En route, they stopped and assaulted her. She threw one over her shoulder onto the ground, but lost the fight against both acting together. After they were finished, the driver of the car discovered that when he was tossed, he’d lost his car keys, and made the woman help search for them in the dark. During the search the victim found the guy’s checkbook and hid it in her shirt. “Ah, ha: a clue.” A most satisfying outcome.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Absolutely love these stories.

My personal favorite involved a woman soldier who reported being raped.

She got separated from her ride back to her unit and a couple of American soldiers she didn’t know offered to take her there. En route, they stopped and assaulted her. She threw one over her shoulder onto the ground, but lost the fight against both acting together. After they were finished, the driver of the car discovered that when he was tossed, he’d lost his car keys, and made the woman help search for them in the dark. During the search the victim found the guy’s checkbook and hid it in her shirt. “Ah, ha: a clue.” A most satisfying outcome.

I know an Army JAG officer who always charged married rapists with adultery.

Claiming the sex was consensual was an admission to the adultery charge.

Praise Allah for their extreme stupidity. And charge them Federally so they rot.

I recall that back around 1955 or so, a person presented the usual note to a BofA teller in San Francisco, and temporarily escaped with the dosh...

Only trouble is that he had printed the demand note on the back of one his own Deposit Slips!

Crack police work soon had him in custody!

Don

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Praise Allah for their extreme stupidity. ...

I picked that up as well, their note said something like "give us money or we will hurt you, praise Allah".

In the UK they could go to jail if they reported that last tidbit.