MN State Fair Craft Beer Exhibit Robbed

Well, $104K is "at least $10k"!

 

FT: $60,000
ISO: The Top 250 on Beeradvocate.com

 

A little update on this story. Another person charged with the robbery, and apparently a third was involved: http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/10/02/state-fair-beer-robbery-charges

Article says $104,000! A mid-day bank drop is definitely called for.

 

Yeah, I guess $104,000 wasn't a typo. That's pretty crazy.

 

I see he was charged in federal court. Why is armed robbery being charged as a federal crime? The explanation given in the article seems very weak.

 

Inside job

 

I would guess it was the amount stolen.

I was thinking $100K was a lot until I remembered that Martha's cookies brings in $2.4M total.

 

The amount stolen is largely irrelevant for federal criminal jurisdiction. There are two guys here, the first one charged is a clear cut federal court case. Guns are sold commonly across state lines and courts have repeatedly affirmed Congressional authority to regulate guns under the Commerce Clause. This guy is being charged with using a firearm in a crime of violence which is a federal crime. Feds like to pick up high profile or low hanging fruit crimes, if they didn't step in and charge him then the state could under its armed robbery laws.

I agree that the explanation for the second guy being charged is very weak as far as out-of-state consumers contributing to the money stolen, so therefore interstate commerce. He didn't have the gun so doesn't fit under the first one. Maybe it is a common thing to plead in federal court but seems strange to me, that the exchange of money on site at the Minnesota State Fair (obviously wholly contained in the state of Minnesota) for food/beer/rides/carnie games is considered interstate commerce? Dumb lawyers and their dumb laws.

 

Good info, thanks!

 

At Minnesota State Fair, vendor robs YOU!

 

http://www.twincities.com/statefair/ci_26747597/beer-exhibit-employee-charged-3-others-state-fair

Inside job it is.