GARY, IN – Hailey Gist-Holden, 28, of Gary, Indiana, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a federal jury convicted him of the brazen June 11, 2021, armed robbery of a First Midwest Bank on Ridge Road. Judge Philp P. Simon handed down two consecutive life sentences plus two years of supervised release after the jury determined Gist-Holden directly caused the death of the bank’s security guard during the commission of the crime.
The evidence presented at trial revealed a calculated plan to rob the Gary bank. But the plan quickly devolved into deadly violence. According to court documents, Gist-Holden executed the security guard at point-blank range before even entering the bank. While an accomplice stole approximately $9,000.00, Gist-Holden remained outside, firing his weapon and shattering windows. The sheer callousness of the act – an execution before a robbery – shocked even hardened investigators.
Following the robbery, Gist-Holden and another co-defendant fled Indiana, attempting to disappear. But the combined forces of multiple agencies weren’t having it. He was tracked down in Georgia and apprehended after a high-speed chase by local law enforcement. The chase underscores the commitment to bringing violent offenders to justice, no matter where they run.
This wasn’t a solo operation. James Anthony King and Kenyon Hawkins have already pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and murder resulting from the discharge of a firearm. They await sentencing. Another individual allegedly involved in the robbery is slated for a separate trial, suggesting a wider network of criminals was at play. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Clifford D. Johnson, has vowed to pursue all those responsible.
“First, I want to express by sincerest condolences to the victims in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Johnson in a prepared statement. “I fully recognize that Gist-Holden’s prosecution does not diminish the anxiety you face or the sorrow that you are – and will continue—to experience because of this senseless act of violence.” The sentiment, while standard, rings hollow for many who see a revolving door in the justice system. Still, Johnson promised continued vigorous prosecution of violent crime in Northern Indiana.
The investigation was a multi-agency effort, spearheaded by the FBI’s Gang Response Investigative Team, and included the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police, ATF, and Gary Police Department. Additional assistance came from FBI offices in Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta, as well as police departments in Georgia. “While this senseless act of violence will have a lifelong impact on the victims,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton, “I hope that knowing this defendant has been held accountable for his crimes helps their healing process.” ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon added, “The men and women of ATF stand shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to ensure our communities are safe.”
Related Federal Cases
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- Alvis Alexander Briceno-Yajures, Gun-Point Robbery, Florida 2025 · New York
- Larry Malone, Bank Fraud, Georgia 2014 · Florida
- Barry Horrow, Bank Fraud, Pennsylvania 2023 · Rhode Island
- FDIC’s Dirty Secret: $250,000 in the Bank, Not a Penny Lost · Ohio
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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