PONTIAC, MI – Christopher Bey, 48, of Pontiac, is facing serious federal charges after a brazen string of robberies targeting businesses in the city. Bey allegedly robbed a Boost Mobile store on February 4, 2023, firing his weapon twice inside the establishment. Less than two months later, on March 24th, he allegedly attempted to rob a Dollar General, holding an employee at gunpoint and ordering him to handcuff himself.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced today that Bey was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of Interference with Commerce by Robbery, Use of a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Bey appeared in federal court this afternoon for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kimberly G. Altman. The investigation, led by the ATF’s Detroit Division and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, paints a picture of a dangerous individual escalating his criminal activity.
“Removing violent offenders from our community is one of my office’s top priorities,” stated U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison. “We will not stop being laser focused on aggressively prosecuting dangerous individuals who persist in terrorizing our citizens.” Agents weren’t just relying on witness accounts, though. Investigators say Bey helpfully advertised his crimes on social media, posting images of himself brandishing a firearm while wearing a ski mask. Clever digital work allowed law enforcement to connect those images to his identity.
ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir didn’t mince words, stating, “Use an illegal firearm to rob 2 stores and discharge that firearm, and the ATF will exhaust every resource to identify you and to hold you accountable for gun violence. The message is simple: Actions have consequences. If you use an illegal firearm to commit gun violence in our community…. pack a lunch. You are going to be unavailable for an extended period of time.” Bey was arrested on July 26, 2023, by the Pontiac Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF), a joint operation between the ATF and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Customs Border Protection and the Detroit Police Department. He’s been held in custody since.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of interagency cooperation. “We appreciate the teamwork with our federal partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. If you are a violent criminal, we will work tirelessly to hold you accountable and do everything in our power to keep our community safe,” he said. “Working together magnifies resources and increases the opportunity for successful prosecution.” The GVTF specifically targets the unlawful possession of firearms and their use in violent crimes within Pontiac, Oakland County, and the Eastern District of Michigan.
Prosecutors Nicholas McIntyre and Matthew Roth are handling the case. It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation. Bey is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But the evidence, as laid out in the indictment, suggests a pattern of escalating violence and disregard for the safety of the Pontiac community.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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