Bank Robber Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Armed Bank Robbery in Benbrook

FORT WORTH, TX—A Fort Worth, Texas man who committed the armed robbery of the American National Bank on Southwest Boulevard, in Benbrook, Texas, on November 10, 2011, Vikram Singh Chauhan, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means to six and one-half years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. The court granted the defendant’s motion for downward departure, noting the defendant’s service overseas and a posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis.

According to documents filed in the case, at approximately 2:00 p.m. on November 10, 2011, Chauhan, 28, of Fort Worth, wearing a mask and holding a gun, entered the bank, located at 6002 Southwest Boulevard in Benbrook. He approached a teller’s counter, threw a bag on the counter, and demanded money. Even though the teller complied, Chauhan demanded more money, so two bank employees opened the vault and, per Chauhan’s demand, put 100s and 20s in the bag. Chauhan then forced the two employees into a separate office and told them to wait 10 minutes. The robber was observed leaving the scene in a pick-up truck.

The investigation revealed that the bank robber was at a residence on Greenway Road in Fort Worth. Chauhan exited the residence, and a subsequent search resulted in the recovery of most of the stolen money, as well as a loaded .22 caliber revolver.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Benbrook Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Michael Worley was in charge of the prosecution.