Gang Member Sentenced to Serve 100 Months In Federal Prison for Armed Bank Robbery

PORTLAND, OR—Christopher Augustus Swanson, 30, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced today by United States District Judge James A. Redden to 100 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, for his role in an armed bank robbery.

On September 5, 2007, three individuals committed an armed robbery at the U.S. Bank, located at 8205 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway, Portland, Washington County, Oregon. During the robbery one of the subjects used a gun to threaten the bank employees and several employees were restrained on the ground with plastic restraints. $2,246.00 in U.S. currency was taken from the bank. Three individuals were arrested after a short pursuit and subsequently charged in federal court. Swanson was a lookout and get-away driver for the group. The codefendants, Jonathan Longmire and Trayvon Betterson, are pending trial.

On March 18, 2008, the defendant pled guilty to the crime of armed bank robbery.

“This defendant was part of a three man crew who committed an armed bank robbery in which a loaded gun was displayed, people were threatened with death, victims were restrained, and people were injured,” noted U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut. “This was a truly violent and terrifying crime which was investigated and prosecuted through successful cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies.”

During the sentencing hearing the government noted that the defendant was a longtime gang member from Los Angeles, California with a lengthy criminal history, including prior convictions for possessing an assault rifle, the unlawful possession of a firearm, and threatening to kill a witness.

This case was investigated by the Beaverton Police Department, the Portland Police Bureau, the Hillsboro Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Kerin.

This case was prosecuted through the U.S. Attorney’s Office Gang Unit. In response to the increase in gang activity across the state, and the resulting violent crime it brings, the U.S. Attorney’s Office formed a gang unit designed to coordinate federal and state law enforcement resources and develop proactive strategies to increase the investigation and prosecution of gang cases.