Houston man sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison for Beaumont Chase Bank robbery

Houston man Michael Raymond Karras, 65, pleaded guilty to bank robbery in Beaumont and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on Jan. 9, 2024. (Beaumont Police Department)

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for a bank robbery in Beaumont, the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

Michael Raymond Karras, 65, pleaded guilty to bank robbery and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on Jan. 9, 2024.

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According to information presented in court, on June 6, 2023, Karras robbed the Chase Bank on Eastex Freeway in Beaumont.

Within minutes of the robbery, investigators said Karras was located at a convenience store wearing a trench coat and driving the vehicle described in the robbery.

After officers detained Karras and obtained consent to search his vehicle, they reportedly discovered $2,870 in cash and the handwritten note Karras had used in the robbery.

This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte.


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