Man to spend nearly 14 years in federal prison
U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced the man who robbed Farmers State Bank in Fremont to 164 months in federal prison.
Jason Burgett, 43, admitted to three bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery in the summer of 2019.
• Farmers State Bank in Fremont on June 3;
• Northern United Federal Credit Union (attempted) in Escanaba, Michigan on July 5;
• Stephenson National Bank and Trust in Pembine on July 8;
• Citizens Community Federal Bank in Lake Hallie on July 15;
Following the robbery in Lake Hallie, Burgett led police on a high-speed chase that ultimately ended in his arrest.
Officers found nearly $16,000 taken from the Citizens Community bank, a BB-gun that resembled the firearm used in the robberies, a ski mask, gloves and a mesh bag.
Griesbach noted during the Feb. 18 sentencing in federal court in Green Bay that Burgett had a lengthy criminal history, including prior convictions for bank robberies in the 1990s.
He served 132 months for armed robberies committed in Milwaukee in 1998 and 1999.
Griesbach called the robberies “frightening offenses” and highlighted the “terror” the defendant’s actions inflicted on the bank employees.
The case was investigated by the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, Marinette County Sheriff’s Office, Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, Escanaba Public Safety Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Humble.