Rochester Man Gets Probation For Second Felony Theft Conviction This Year

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man, who has been convicted in two theft cases, has been sentenced in the latest case against him. 

See Also: Rochester Man Given One Day Probation for Drug Conviction 

21-year-old Bill Gum Benjamin was charged in July with felony counts of theft by obtaining property of another and theft–intent to exercise temporary control.

The charges alleged that Benjamin intimidated another man into making multiple ATM withdrawals and then took the other man's money. 

Get our free mobile app

Rochester Man Sentenced to Probation for Stealing Thousands of Dollars Through Coerced ATM Withdrawals

The allegedly coerced withdrawals began in late March after the victim agreed to give Benjamin $300 to get his vehicle out of the impound lot, the complaint says. 

The victim told Rochester police that Benjamin then learned what days the victim received his paycheck and began texting him to arrange meetings, saying he wanted to pay back the money he had borrowed. 

The court document says Benjamin, on multiple occasions, accompanied the victim as he made withdrawals from an ATM and then took the money instead. 

The victim also stated that when he hesitated about going to the ATM, Benjamin would put his arm around him and guide him to the machine, and even grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him to the cash machine to make withdrawals.

The victim told investigators that Benjamin made him feel nervous and uncomfortable and that he told Benjamin multiple times that he did not want to give him any more money. 

The criminal complaint says text messages reviewed by police show Benjamin also made multiple promises to provide the victim with $14,000 in cash, but he never paid him back.

The court record indicates investigators were able to document more than $3,900 that was taken from the victim through the ATM withdrawals.

Benjamin entered into a plea agreement last month in which he admitted to the charge of felony theft by obtaining property of another. He was sentenced to five years probation earlier this week. 

Benjamin was sentenced to five years on probation earlier this year for a felony theft conviction. In that case, he was accused of physically intimidating a man with autism and forcing him to make cash withdrawals from his bank account totaling more than $41,000 between September 2023 and September of last year.