Milwaukee Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Orchestrating Two Bank Robberies

Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that Michael L. Corbitt, Jr., (age 38) was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison for his involvement in two bank robberies. At Corbitt’s sentencing hearing, the government discussed that Corbitt selected the robbery locations, wrote out the demand notes, recruited individuals addicted to controlled substances to commit the robberies on his behalf, and drove his co-actors to the banks.  The government also discussed that Corbitt had developed a pattern, of sorts, in the past couple years of recruiting individuals addicted to drugs to commit crimes for him. 

During each of the bank robberies, Corbitt’s co-actors handed the tellers demand notes with bomb threats.  One demand note stated that a “bomb will blow” if the tellers did not comply.  Corbitt’s co-defendants, Alner L. Navarro (age 37) and Jose L. Rivera (age 40), received sentences of 48 months in prison and 36 months in prison, respectively.  All three defendants’ prison terms will be followed by three years of supervised release.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force and the Milwaukee Police Department. The prosecution also relied upon reports and investigation conducted by the West Allis Police Department, the Oak Creek Police Department, the Waukesha Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

This case also involved collaboration and communication between the United States Attorney’s Office and the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret B. Honrath.