WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – A Woodbury man received probation for a series of bank robberies in the metro area.
Judge Juanita C. Freeman sentenced Zahir Mohamednazir Bachelani to five years of supervised probation to be monitored by the Washington County Community Corrections
In December, Bachelani pleaded guilty to three counts of felony simple robbery in Washington County.
The criminal complaint states Zahir Mohamednazir Bachelani, 39, told police he robbed the banks because of mounting medical bills. A call to a tip line led police to a silver Hyundai Sonata that was similar to the car noted during one of the robberies. It was owned by Bachelani and found at a workplace near one of the banks. Police arrested him when he left work and charged him with second-degree aggravated robbery and two counts of simple robbery.
Bachelani was convicted of robbing the Huntington Bank, located at 7377 Currell Blvd. and the Wells Fargo Bank, located at 7525 Currell Blvd. in Woodbury and US Bank, located at 7620 10th St N in Oakdale. The robberies occurred between June 14 and August 3, 2024.
A search of the suspect’s home turned up pieces of clothing that appear to match the items worn by the suspect during one of the robberies.
Eden Prairie Local News reports that according to a Hennepin County criminal complaint Bachelani’s first known robbery occurred at the Old National Bank in Eden Prairie on March 28. He allegedly handed a teller a note demanding $8,000 and claiming an accomplice was waiting outside. The teller provided $6,824, which included marked bills. Eden Prairie police later released surveillance images of the suspect wearing a yellow surgical mask and asked for the public’s help in identifying him.
