Home San Antonio Press Releases 2009 New Braunfels Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Committing Bank Robberies
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New Braunfels Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Committing Bank Robberies

U.S. Attorney’s Office September 18, 2009
  • Western District of Texas (210) 384-7100

John E. Murphy, Acting U.S. Attorney announced that in Austin this afternoon, 28-year-old Christopher Ryan Smith was sentenced to 205 months in federal prison for committing a string of bank and retail store robberies as well as brandishing a firearm during one of the bank robberies.

United States District Judge Sam Sparks also ordered Smith to pay over $28,000 restitution and be placed under supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term.

On July 1, 2009, Smith pleaded guilty to three bank robbery counts, one Hobbs Act count (interference with commerce by robbery) and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. By pleading guilty, Smith admitted that on October 27, 2008, he robbed the American Bank of Texas located in Garden Ridge, Texas; on December 12, 2008, he robbed the American National Bank in Luling, Texas; and, on January 12, 2009, he robbed the American National Bank located on Hunter Road in San Marcos, Texas. Smith also admitted responsibility for robbing the Dollar General Store located on Willow Springs Drive in San Marcos on April 16, 2009. Finally, Smith admitted that he brandished an automatic handgun during the January 12, 2009, bank robbery in San Marcos.

According to court documents, Smith stole over $30,000 during these robberies.

Local law enforcement captured Smith in New Braunfels after he led them on a high speed chase down Interstate 35 following the April 16, 2009, robbery in San Marcos. Officers recovered a 9mm pistol and more than $2,000 stolen by Smith from the Dollar General Store.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with local law enforcement agencies where the offenses took place. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Lane prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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