Janesville man indicted in robbery at Juneau bank

MADISON — A Janesville man was indicted in federal court Wednesday for a 2008 Juneau County bank robbery in which $40,000 was taken at gunpoint.

Thomas A. Senge, also known as Thomas A. Steele, 59, is accused of entering the Farmers State Bank and brandishing a firearm during the Dec. 9, 2008, robbery, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In February, Richard Molinaro Jr., 36, Tomah, pleaded guilty to robbing the Farmers State Bank with an unnamed accomplice.

During Molinaro’s plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy O’Shea said Molinaro entered the bank with another man.

O’Shea on Wednesday said the other man was Senge.

During the robbery, Senge took out a handgun and ordered the tellers to open the vault. While Senge pointed a gun at the tellers, Molinaro held open a bag that Senge filled with cash, O’Shea said.

The two men were later were seen at the Cornerstone Café in Elroy where Molinaro changed out of clothing he wore during the robbery. Molinaro left some clothing in a restroom and put other clothing in a nearby dumpster, O’Shea said.

The clothing was recovered that same day along with a cigarette Molinaro discarded outside of the café. DNA matching Molinaro’s was found on the cigarette, O’Shea said.

Molinaro’s cell phone records revealed he made three calls to Senge before the bank holdup and five calls after, O’Shea said.

Molinaro’s attorney, Kelly Welsh, said the bank’s loss was between $40,000 and $45,000.

No court date has been set for Senge, who is in custody. If convicted, Senge faces up to 25 years in prison on the robbery charge and an additional seven years for using a firearm during the robbery.