Accused bank robber pleads guilty to Grand Forks holdups

FARGO -- A woman accused of robbing two Grand Forks banks of nearly $22,000 last fall pleaded guilty Tuesday.
 Charlene Mae Corona, 39, originally pleaded not guilty in March, and she was scheduled to go to trial earlier this month on two bank robbery charges in Fargo federal court. But after entering a plea deal, Corona pleaded guilty Tuesday to both charges. Corona, also known as Charlene Mae Espinoza, is accused of robbing Bremer Bank at 921 N. Washington St. on Sept. 30 and Citizens Community Credit Union at 1215 N. 42nd St. on Oct. 12. The plea deal, which was filed in court records May 2, doesn’t include a recommended sentence, but it does say the prosecution will “recommend a sentence at the low end of the guideline range.” She will also have to pay restitution. Before the deal, Corona faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the bank robbery charges. And before appearing in federal court, Corona initially was charged in Grand Forks District Court with two counts of robbery, both Class B felonies, and two counts of terrorizing, both Class C felonies, after investigators said she held up two Grand Forks banks, one at knife-point and the other at gunpoint, though records say the gun was phony, according to district court documents. Those charges were dismissed after the U.S. Attorney’s Office decided to pursue federal charges against her. Grand Forks Police released still photographs from security cameras inside the banks, which led to two tipsters identifying Corona as the robber in the photographs and Corona’s arrest in Clay County. Officers found drugs on Corona when she was arrested in Moorhead. She pleaded guilty to the drug charge Dec. 10 in Clay County District Court and was sentenced to 17 months at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, Minn., for fifth-degree possession of drugs, with credit for 71 days served.FARGO -- A woman accused of robbing two Grand Forks banks of nearly $22,000 last fall pleaded guilty Tuesday.
 Charlene Mae Corona, 39, originally pleaded not guilty in March, and she was scheduled to go to trial earlier this month on two bank robbery charges in Fargo federal court. But after entering a plea deal, Corona pleaded guilty Tuesday to both charges.Corona, also known as Charlene Mae Espinoza, is accused of robbing Bremer Bank at 921 N. Washington St. on Sept. 30 and Citizens Community Credit Union at 1215 N. 42nd St. on Oct. 12.The plea deal, which was filed in court records May 2, doesn’t include a recommended sentence, but it does say the prosecution will “recommend a sentence at the low end of the guideline range.” She will also have to pay restitution.Before the deal, Corona faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the bank robbery charges.And before appearing in federal court, Corona initially was charged in Grand Forks District Court with two counts of robbery, both Class B felonies, and two counts of terrorizing, both Class C felonies, after investigators said she held up two Grand Forks banks, one at knife-point and the other at gunpoint, though records say the gun was phony, according to district court documents.Those charges were dismissed after the U.S. Attorney’s Office decided to pursue federal charges against her.Grand Forks Police released still photographs from security cameras inside the banks, which led to two tipsters identifying Corona as the robber in the photographs and Corona’s arrest in Clay County.Officers found drugs on Corona when she was arrested in Moorhead. She pleaded guilty to the drug charge Dec. 10 in Clay County District Court and was sentenced to 17 months at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, Minn., for fifth-degree possession of drugs, with credit for 71 days served.