FARGO - A Grand Forks man was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court to life in prison in connection with a bank robbery in Gilby in May 2009.
Clifton M. Patterson earlier pleaded guilty to robbing the Bremer Bank in Gilby and he was found guilty at trial of charges of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Judge Ralph Erickson sentenced Patterson to 20 years on the bank robbery charge and to 21 years and 10 months on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Erickson sentenced Patterson to life in prison on the aiding and abetting charge, which is to run consecutive to the other two sentences.
Patterson was also ordered to pay restitution of $89,755.
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According to the U.S. Attorney's Office:
Patterson and William Randall Collins robbed the Bremer Bank in Gilby on May 26, 2009.
During the robbery, Collins brandished a shotgun and Patterson brandished a gun that was later determined to be a BB gun.
Collins pleaded guilty to bank robbery charges and was sentenced to more than 26 years.
