Thornton Bank Robber Sentenced to Over 14 Years in Federal Prison

DENVER -- Edward Dean McCraine, age 60, of Fort Collins, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Lewis T. Babcock to serve 175 months (14.5 years) in federal prison for armed bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney Bob Troyer and FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers announced. Following his sentence, McCraines was ordered to serve 3 years on supervised release. At the time of the crime, the defendant was on Supervised Release for a 2001 bank robbery.

McCraine was first charged by Criminal Complaint on May 26, 2016. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 8, 2016. The indictment was dismissed and the defendant was charged and pled guilty to an Information on November 9, 2016. He was sentenced on February 8, 2017.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the defendant’s plea agreement, on May 26, 2016, McCraine walked into a TCF Bank located at 9660 Washington Street in Thornton, Colorado. He immediately pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun from his waistband and pointed it at two different bank tellers. He demanded money from both tellers, stating that he didn’t want dye packs or GPS devices. Both tellers provided money as they were in fear for their lives. The defendant then noticed that one of the tellers provided a GPS tracking device. McCraine removed it, stating “I should just shoot you for giving me that.” He then placed the money in a shopping bag and fled the bank. The defendant was later apprehended after his probation officer reviewed photos of recent bank robbers, immediately recognizing McCraine.

“Robbing a bank with a gun is volunteering for federal prison. There are cameras and security everywhere, and you are guaranteed to get a long sentence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer.

“Today’s sentencing illustrates the FBI’s continued commitment to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to address violent crime,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers. “This investigation was truly a collaborative effort with our local partners, and we are confident that today’s sentencing sends a message to those contemplating committing criminal acts in our community that they will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

This case was investigated by the Thornton Police Department and the FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force.

The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Giles, Chief of the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division.