NDSU football player dismissed after alleged theft of duffel with Rolex and luxury items at Lake Minnetonka
William Frattalone faces felony theft charges after authorities say a designer bag containing a Rolex, cash and limited-edition clothing was taken from a boat during Fourth of July weekend
A North Dakota State University football player has been dismissed from the team after authorities charged him with felony theft for allegedly taking a duffel bag containing a Rolex and other high-value items from a boat docked at Lake Minnetonka.
William Frattalone, 20, was charged in Hennepin County, Minn., with one count of felony theft of property valued at more than $35,000, according to jail records and a criminal complaint. Prosecutors say the bag contained more than $270,000 in luxury goods, including a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Platinum Ice Blue Index Dial watch valued at $228,000, roughly $25,000 in limited-edition clothing, a $400 bottle of cologne, and between $5,000 and $10,000 in cash.
According to the criminal complaint, the owner of the bag told investigators he had stored the duffel in a sealed cabin before leaving the boat to dine at Maynard’s Restaurant on Lake Minnetonka. When the group returned, the bag was missing. The complaint says a restaurant employee observed Frattalone attempting to carry a large bag through the dining room in violation of policy and escorted him from the premises.
The complaint also says another passenger contacted Frattalone about the missing bag and that he responded by saying his "parents were wealthy and would write a check for whatever was inside the bag," according to court documents. Police executed a search warrant at Frattalone’s home in nearby Wayzata and located the duffel in his bedroom, though investigators have not recovered the Rolex watch, the complaint states. Video from Frattalone’s cell phone allegedly places him on the boat the night of the alleged theft.
Frattalone was arrested Aug. 1 and released from the Hennepin County Jail on Aug. 4, court records show. North Dakota State head coach Tim Polasek said in a statement that Frattalone "has been dismissed from the NDSU football team for a violation of team rules." Polasek added that Frattalone "was not part of the 123 players for fall camp and will not be considered to re-join the team in any fashion."
Frattalone is scheduled to make his first court appearance Sept. 11. His attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to media reports.
The alleged incident occurred over Fourth of July weekend at Maynard’s Restaurant, a popular lakeside establishment about 25 miles west of Minneapolis. Authorities filed the criminal complaint last month after the bag was allegedly traced to Frattalone’s residence and corroborating phone footage was recovered.
NDSU, a Division I program, did not provide further public comment beyond the coach’s statement. The case remains pending in Hennepin County District Court, where prosecutors will determine next steps as the matter proceeds toward trial or resolution.