GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A man connected to a pair of recent bank robberies in West Michigan will serve 15 years behind bars following sentencing in federal court last week.
Michael Dewayne Winbush, 53
Michael Dewayne Winbush, 53, of Grand Rapids pleaded guilty to charges in February for robbing the Flagstar Bank on 44th Street in Grand Rapids on November 30, 2015.
In exchange for the guilty plea, Winbush wasn't prosecuted for a robbery he committed at the Lake Michigan Credit Union in Wyoming just a few days prior to the Flagstar Bank incident.
Winbush walked into the Flagstar Bank last November and handed a teller a note indicating that he had a gun, demanding money. He obtained more than $5,000 and left the bank.
Surveillance video from both the Flagstar robbery and Lake Michigan Credit Union robbery helped identify Winbush through tips that were made to Silent Observer.
Winbush was scolded during sentencing for repeatedly resorting to bank robbery despite being educated, articulate, and have the skills and ability to be a productive member of society.
Winbush was previously convicted of bank robbery charges for incidents on the east side of the state during 2001 and 2005.
In the most recent conviction, Winbush has been ordered to pay restitution to both banking entities, as well as serve three years on supervised release once he's finished his prison term.
