Gang-Member Bagged for RobbingCU–Twice

TACOMA, Wash. - (07/05/06) – A California gang member agreedto a 19-years prison term Monday after pleading guilty to robbingthe Spanaway branch of America’s CU–twice in sevenmonths. Mitchell Friend, 27, and an accomplice made off with$36,000 during an armed robbery July 14, 2004; then he stole$82,000 from the same branch when he hit it again with a differentaccomplice, on Feb. 24, 2005. Friend’s accomplice in thefirst robbery, identified as Troy Thurman, has been arrested and isscheduled to stand trial on September 18. Friend and Thurman aremembers of a Los Angeles gang, police said. The accomplice in thesecond robbery was a 13-year-old boy who was notidentified.