Man Who Tried to Rob Tumwater Credit Union With Blowtorch Sentenced to Prison

TUMWATER, Washington — A skilled welder who tried to use a blowtorch to break into a Tumwater credit union and steal an ATM has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison.

Randall Taufete'e, 34, of Olympia, pleaded guilty to arson and attempted robbery of a federally insured credit union in March 2024.

According to court documents, on October 24, 2022, Tumwater firefighters responded to a fire alarm at O ​​Bee Credit Union. When they arrived, they saw flames coming out of the top of an ATM. Once the fire was extinguished and authorities investigated, they found traces of charcoal and prying on the ATM, night safe, drive-thru window and exterior door.

Surveillance video from that night showed two men using a crowbar, a power saw and a blowtorch to try to open the ATM and gain access to the building. The Justice Department estimated the damages totaled $198,018.

VIDEO | Failed Bank Robbery Attempt With Blowtorch

Days after the incident, Taufete'e was arrested on gun charges. Authorities said they identified him as one of the men in the surveillance video.

Brandon Ronald Collado, 36, of Olympia, is a co-defendant in the case. He was indicted in January 2023 and pleaded guilty in June 2023.

Collado was sentenced to a year and a half in prison, a statement said.

According to court documents, prosecutors sought a 92-month sentence for Taufete'e and said he has more than a dozen criminal convictions as an adult. He will be on supervised release for three years after his prison sentence.

Taufete'e and Collado will have to pay $198,018 for damages caused to the credit union.

The case was investigated by the Tumwater Police Department in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.