Rochester Man on Probation for $41K Theft Convicted in New Case

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man who was earlier sentenced to probation for stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a vulnerable adult has now been convicted of a similar crime.

Olmsted County court records show that 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.

According to the criminal complaint, 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 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.

Victim Describes Intimidation Leading to ATM Withdrawals

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

Police Uncovered Thousands Taken Through ATM Transactions

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 this week and admitted to the charge of felony theft by obtaining property of another. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

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Prior Probation Case Involved $41,000 Theft

Earlier this year, Benjamin was sentenced to five years on probation 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.

READ MORE: Rochester Man Convicted in Vulnerable Adult Theft Case 

Benjamin also entered a guilty plea earlier this year to a count of felony damage to property involving an incident in late January that caused about $6,500 in damage to a northwest Rochester residence.