Charlotte man sentenced to prison after driving minor to commit a bank robbery
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β A Charlotte man was sentenced to seven years in prison after driving a minor to rob a Wells Fargo bank in Pineville, according to the U.S. Attorneyβs Office.
Michael Pringle Jr., 32, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence.
On May 2, 2024, Pringle picked up a 16-year-old minor in a rented vehicle after the two previously talked about robbing a bank on that date. After failing to rob one bank, Pringle and the minor went to the Wells Fargo off Pineville-Matthews Road in Pineville.
Court records said Pringle handed the minor a gun and a black bag and told him to demand $20,000. The minor entered the bank with a hoodie and a facemask while Pringle waited in the car, according to court documents.
Once inside the bank, the minor said he needed to make a withdrawal before pulling out the gun and telling a bank teller βput $20,000 in this bag right now,β court records show. The teller filled the bag with over $18,000, and the minor ran back to the getaway vehicle with Pringle, and the two drove off.
Police located the vehicle after the robbery and arrested Pringle and the 16-year-old. The arresting officers located a Glock 43 handgun with an extended magazine in the driverβs door pocket, authorities said. Officers also recovered the money that was scattered throughout the backseat of the vehicle.
