Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to August 2016 Bank Robbery Spree

Christopher James Baum, 36, of Albuquerque, N.M., admitted today in federal court to a violent bank robbery spree that terrorized Bernalillo County in August 2016. Baum pleaded guilty to six counts of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery, capping a crime wave that saw him hit multiple financial institutions in just over two weeks — brandishing a pistol during at least one heist.

The plea, announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, FBI Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade, and Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden E. Eden, Jr., locks Baum into a mandatory prison sentence of 20 to 30 years, followed by a yet-to-be-determined term of supervised release. Baum has remained in federal custody since his arrest in August 2016 and will stay locked up pending a sentencing hearing to be scheduled by the court.

Baum’s crime spree began on Aug. 16, 2016, when he robbed the Bank of the West at 5901 Menaul Blvd. NE. He struck again on Aug. 19 at the Bank of the West on 2101 Eubank Blvd. NE. On Aug. 23, he attempted to rob the Bank of Albuquerque at 4201 Wyoming Blvd. NE and later that same day robbed the Nusenda Credit Union at 7517 Montgomery Blvd. NE. He hit Wells Fargo at 4700 Tramway Blvd. NE on Aug. 24, and capped the spree on Aug. 30 with another robbery — this time at the Bank of the West located at 780 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE.

During the Aug. 30 robbery, Baum admitted to brandishing a pistol at a bank teller, escalating the charge and underscoring the danger posed to employees and customers. Surveillance footage and witness statements helped build a swift case, leading to his arrest days after the final robbery. Federal prosecutors moved quickly, charging him with multiple counts under federal jurisdiction due to the interstate nature of banking institutions.

The case was investigated jointly by the FBI’s Albuquerque Division and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle is handling the prosecution. Baum’s criminal history includes three prior bank robbery convictions, which triggered federal intervention under a targeted anti-violence initiative aimed at repeat offenders in high-crime areas.

Baum is being prosecuted under a federal initiative that targets ‘the worst of the worst’ — focusing on violent or repeat offenders, particularly in counties like Bernalillo, where New Mexico’s per capita violent crime rate ranks among the highest in the nation. The strategy leverages federal sentencing laws to remove habitual criminals from local communities for extended periods, aiming to disrupt cycles of reoffending and restore public safety.

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