Michael is presumed dead and is placed under witness protection by the corrupt FIB agent Dave Norton, a close friend of the same, thus transferring him with his family to Los Santos (San Andreas) with a new identity: “Michael De Santa”.
But everything goes wrong because Dave instead of shooting Trevor, shoots Brad and Trevor escapes. Michael, wanting to escape from that life then, plans a fake heist alongside corrupt federal agent Dave Norton (Dave had to kill Trevor and arrest Brad while Michael faked his death). In 2004, Michael Townley, Trevor Philips, and Brad Snider were bank robbers living in Ludendorff, in the state of North Yankton (based in North Dakota ).
