Shelton man pleads guilty to Norwalk bank robbery

STAMFORD — A Shelton man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge tied to a Norwalk bank robbery in November 2021.

Michael Tallo, 38, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery during a remote hearing before Superior Court judgeKevin Randolph Tuesday.

The guilty plea comes as a part of a deal with State’s Attorney Paul Ferencek. Under the plea agreement, Tallo will receive a 12-year prison sentence suspended after he serves four-and-a-half years, or 54 months, of it.

After serving his prison sentence, Tallo will be placed on five years of probation, Ferencek said during Tuesday’s hearing.

Tallo was arrested by Norwalk police in February 2022 on charges of first-degree robbery and fifth-degree larceny.

Norwalk police said the arrest stemmed from an incident onNov. 7, 2021, when dispatchers were notified of a robbery at theTDBank onWestportAvenue.

When officers arrived, police said, they were told the robber handed a note to a teller claiming to have a weapon.

“The note read, in part I’m quoting, ‘I have a gun. Want 100s and 50s only. No bands, no dye packs, no GPS. Be cool and you will be fine,” Ferencek said.

The bank teller gave Tallo $600, at which point he left the bank, Ferencek said. No weapon was shown during the robbery, according to police.

The suspect in the robbery was described by witnesses as a heavy-set male in a hat and shorts. Police said the investigation revealed evidence and “witness testimony” that connected Tallo with the robbery.

Tallo is also accused of robbing a separate bank in Ansonia amonth before the Norwalk robbery, in late October. Police arrested the Shelton man on Nov. 9, 2021, and charged him with first-degree robbery, third-degree larceny and first-degree threatening, according to previous reports and court records.

Tallo’s case from Ansonia, which is being heard at the state Superior Court in Milford, is still pending. But Tallo’s attorney in the Norwalk case, public defender Jared Millbrandt, said he “anticipates” that his client will resolve the case in the near future.

Tallo is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16.