Man sentenced for Sugar Land bank robbery and others in multiple states

HOUSTON – A 50-year-old Louisiana man has been ordered to federal prison for the September 2015 robbery of BBVA Compass Bank in Sugar Land, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Charles Wood, of Farmersville, pleaded guilty on Aug. 12, admitting he robbed the local bank and banks in four other states. 

Thursday, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ordered Wood to serve a total of 84 months in prison.

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Wood will also be required to serve three years of supervised release following completion of the prison term.

On Sept. 14, 2015, Wood entered the BBVA Compass Bank located at 14121 North Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. He pulled a black BB gun from his jacket and displayed it to the teller, asking for a withdrawal of 20s, 50s and 100s. The teller complied.

A brief pursuit by law enforcement officers ensued, resulting in his apprehension a short distance from the bank.

At the time of the plea Thursday, Wood also admitted to committing four additional bank robberies in four other states:

  • The Feb. 18, 2015, robbery of U.S. Bank at 4140 John F. Kennedy Blvd. in Little Rock, Arkansas
  • The Aug. 11, 2015, robbery of Great Western Bank located at 3800 East 15th St. in Loveland, Colorado
  • The Aug. 15, 2015, robbery of American West Bank located at 1290 S. West St. in Woods Cross, Utah
  • The Aug. 27, 2015, robbery of Valley View Bank located at 8100 W. 151st St. in Overland Park, Kansas

Woods will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, according to the Department of Justice.

The FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Searle prosecuted the case.