June 18, 2014

Repeat Bank Robber Handed Significant Sentence

HOUSTON—Joseph C. M. Krist, 43, of San Antonio, has been ordered to prison for 30 years for bank robbery and using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Krist was convicted by a Corpus Christi federal jury December 12, 2013.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos, who presided over the trial, handed Krist a sentence of 240 months for the bank robbery and a consecutive sentence of 120 months for the firearm charge, resulting in a total 360-month federal prison sentence. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos noted the need to protect the public. Krist will also be required to serve a term of five years of supervised release following completion of the prison term.

Joseph C. M. Krist was found to have committed the bank robbery of the IBC Bank on corner of Everhart and Burney in Corpus Christi on January 13, 2013. He entered the bank wearing a grey hoodie and green shirt sleeve covering the lower portion of his face while brandishing a .40 caliber pistol at employees.

Evidence demonstrated that Krist was a prior convicted bank robber both in state and federal court. At the time of the IBC bank robbery, he was wanted by the authorities for violations of his state parole and federal supervised release.

Authorities located him at a campground in Uvalde three days after the robbery. At the time of his arrest, Krist was found in possession of a large amount of cash and a .40 caliber handgun as well as the grey hoodie and a green t-shirt missing a single shirt sleeve.

Krist had initially admitted to the robbery. At trial, however, he contended he was not present at the robbery, but he refused to identify the actual robber. The jury deliberated for approximately four hours before finding him guilty as charged.

Krist will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The case was investigated by FBI with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and Corpus Christi Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lance Duke.