A woman nick-named the “Ragu Bomber” in connection with robbing a Clinton Township bank using two jars of spaghetti sauce on Saturday April 6 has been arrested. 53-year-old Ophelia Amelia Neal was arrested after robbing the Fifth Third Bank using spaghetti sauce in a bag which she claimed to be a bomb as she demanded cash from a teller.
A news article at Mlive.com states that Neal absconded with $3,000, escaping in a getaway car that was driven by an unidentified male. After spending hours of carefully removing the “explosives” left behind by the suspect, state police opened the bag to find two cans of Ragu spaghetti sauce. Clinton Township police Capt. Richard Maierle said that Neal did not bother to conceal her face in the robbery, and that at more than 400 pounds, she was already conspicuous. Neal is a parole absconder and convict, so police recognized her quickly due to previous dealings with her. She was arrested on Friday April 12 in Mount Clemens.
Neal has been convicted in the past for marijuana possession, possession of controlled substances, writing bad checks, and felony assault. She was charged by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office with bank robbery and using an explosive with intent to frighten.
Michigan armed robbery lawyers know that even when an individual does not use a “real” weapon in the commission of a bank robbery but insinuates the presence of one in order to frighten or instill fear in victims, that individual may face life in prison if convicted. This is an extremely serious felony offense that is severely punished in the state of Michigan.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for armed or unarmed robbery or any serious criminal offense, do not hesitate before contacting a capable and aggressive Michigan criminal defense attorney. In order to reach positive results, you must have the support and legal guidance of a skilled and experienced lawyer with a winning track record in these types of cases.