Christopher James Baum, Bank Robbery, New Mexico 2016

ALBUQUERQUE – A bank robbery spree that terrorized Albuquerque residents in August 2016 has come to an end with the guilty plea of Christopher James Baum, 36, of Albuquerque, N.M., to six bank robbery charges.

On August 16, 2016, Baum robbed the Bank of the West branch located at 5901 Menaul Blvd. NE, marking the beginning of a five-day crime spree that would leave a trail of fear and financial loss in its wake. Baum would go on to rob three more Bank of the West branches, as well as the Nusenda Credit Union and Wells Fargo Bank branches, before attempting to rob the Bank of Albuquerque on August 23, 2016.

During his guilty plea, Baum admitted to brandishing a pistol at the bank teller during the August 30, 2016 robbery of the Bank of the West branch located at 780 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Baum will be sentenced within the range of 20 to 30 years in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Baum, whose criminal history includes three prior bank robbery convictions, is being prosecuted under a federal anti-violence initiative that targets ‘the worst of the worst’ offenders for federal prosecution.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle is prosecuting the case.

Baum remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

In total, Baum robbed or attempted to rob five banks in Bernalillo County, N.M., between August 16, 2016 and August 30, 2016, netting him a significant amount of money in the process.

The guilty plea is a major victory for law enforcement and a testament to the tireless efforts of the FBI and APD to bring Baum to justice.

Baum’s sentence will be determined by the court and is expected to be handed down in the coming months.

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