Robbery Defendant Loves Champagne

A 22-year-old Greenfield man with expensive tastes is facing decades in jail after police say he robbed two banks last month.

Michael Oparah, who lives in the 7300 block of Southridge Drive, was charged with two counts of robbery of a financial institution in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Feb. 1.

He admitted to police with making off with more than $5,000 from the two heists, and told police he spent most of the money on champagne at clubs.

The two counts each carry a maximum sentence of 40 years of imprisonment and $100,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 11, Oparah approached a teller at Associated Bank, 4811 S. 76th St., and ” The teller handed Oparah $3,016.

Eleven days later, Oparah struck again, according to the complaint. This time, he went to Tri-City National Bank, 6767 W. Greenfield Ave., in West Allis, and handed a teller a small piece of paper that read:

“Robbery. $100s, $50s, and $20s. Don’t look alarmed and no one will get hurt.”

The teller gave Oparah approximately $2,400.

Oparah turned himself in to West Allis police Jan. 28, and admitted to both robberies. He told police that he rode a bus to and from Associated Bank, his first target. He got a ride to the West Allis bank from a friend, who told police he thought he was giving Oparah a ride to cash a check.