Palm Beach Gardens Man Sentenced for Committing Five Bank Robberies During 2012 Holiday Season

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced today’s sentencing of Crispian Carl Sprague, 38, formerly of Palm Beach Gardens. U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra sentenced Sprague to 66 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for five bank robberies he committed between November 21, 2012 and January 3, 2013. Judge Marra also ordered Sprague to pay $11,620 in restitution.

As Sprague admitted in his guilty plea, on the day before Thanksgiving, November 21, 2012, Sprague robbed the BB&T Bank in Palm Beach Gardens. Sprague approached a teller and handed her a note that demanded money and implied that he had a weapon. The teller handed Sprague the money. A few days later, on December 4, 2012, Sprague robbed the JP Morgan Chase Bank in Palm Beach Gardens. During this robbery, Sprague approached a teller and handed her a note that read: “This is a robbery open your drawer[.] Give me all your 100s and 50’s[.] Nobody will be hurt[.] I am armed[.]” The teller handed Sprague the money. On December 20, 2012, Sprague robbed the JP Morgan Chase Bank in Jupiter, Florida. Sprague handed the teller a note that demanded money and stated that he was armed. Again, the teller complied and handed Sprague some money. On Christmas Eve, Sprague robbed the JP Morgan Chase Bank in Lake Worth, Florida. Sprague handed the teller a note demanding money and stating that he was armed. The teller complied and gave Sprague the money. On January 3, 2013, Sprague entered the TD Bank in Juno Beach, Florida. Sprague entered the bank, approached the teller, and handed the teller a note that stated: “This is a robbery[.] No dye packs no alarms[.] 100s, 50s, 20s only[.] I am armed[.]” The teller gave Sprague bank-owned funds.

On January 8, 2013, the note used by Sprague during the January 3, 2013 TD Bank robbery was processed by a CSI/Certified Latent Fingerprint Examiner and a partial print was located on the top area of the note. The fingerprint was subsequently positively identified as that of Crispian Carl Sprague. On January 10, 2013, Sprague was arrested at his residence.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI. Mr. Ferrer also thanked the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, West Palm Beach Police Department, Juno Beach Police Department, and Palm Beach Gardens Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Marie Villafaña.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.