Christopher Michael Vaughan Sentenced to 420 Months for Armed Robberies

GREENEVILLE, TN—Christopher Michael Vaughan, 37, of Bristol, Tennessee, was sentenced to serve a total of 420 months in prison by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge, on September 11, 2013. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to supervised release for five years. Vaughan was further ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes.

Vaughan pleaded guilty in April 2013 to the February 2013 armed robberies of a Scotchman convenience store, a Roadrunner convenience store, and Belmont Package store, all in Bristol, Tennessee. Vaughan also pleaded guilty to a February 2013 armed bank robbery of the New Peoples Bank in Bristol, Virginia.

Federal law mandates a seven-year minimum mandatory sentence for brandishing a firearm in the commission of a violent offense, with each additional offense of possession of a firearm in the commission of a violent offense carrying a 25 year minimum mandatory sentence.

“Serious federal sentences are intended for the most violent criminals in our society. These city police departments, the FBI, and AUSA Greg Bowman are to be congratulated for this successful prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Killian.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation included the Bristol Tennessee Police Department, Bristol Virginia Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gregory Bowman represented the United States.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces.