A 23-year-old man accused of robbing a Midtown credit union in September was found guilty on federal charges Wednesday.
Witnesses to the robbery of $1,800 described Eyob Eric Stewart Imlach as a "frequent customer" at the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union on West 36th Avenue, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason convicted Stewart on Wednesday after a bench trial — one without a jury — that lasted a little over a day, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. His sentencing is scheduled for early February.
Imlach walked into the credit union wearing a parka and JanSport backpack but no shirt, charging documents say.
Evidence presented at trial said Imlach walked up to a teller with a note that read "Give me all the $" written on one of his own checks, federal prosecutors said. The teller didn't immediately give him money, so he handed the note to a second teller who gave him $1,778.
Imlach walked across the parking lot into the Qupqugiaq Inn, where police officers found and arrested him.
About an hour before the robbery, Imlach had drawn attention inside the Arctic Slope Regional Corp. building near Alaska USA, after trying to seek access to suites on the floors above the main lobby, federal prosecutors say. Denied access, he refused to leave and was subsequently escorted out by police.
Imlach was charged in 2016 with stabbing his father, and had all but a third-degree assault dismissed in a plea deal.