TYLER, TX—A 32-year-old Longview, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for robbing a bank in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Christian Drew Ponce pleaded guilty on Apr. 9, 2015 to bank robbery and was sentenced to 105 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Ponce was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,620.00.

According to information presented in court, on Aug. 11, 2014, Ponce and three co-defendants devised and executed a scheme to rob the Austin Bank, Bar K Bank, in Longview, Texas. Ponce was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 27, 2014, and charged with bank robbery. Ponce was immediately taken into custody following sentencing by the U.S. Marshals.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and the Longview Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Middleton.