Lancaster Man Gets 171 Months for East Texas Bank Heists

TYLER, TX – LaQuaylan Wesley Patterson, a 25-year-old from Lancaster, Texas, is headed to federal prison for a string of brazen armed robberies and a carjacking that terrorized East Texas. Acting U.S. Attorney Britt Featherston announced the sentencing today, bringing a close to a case that spanned over a year.

Patterson pleaded guilty on August 23, 2016, to two counts of armed bank robbery and one count of carjacking. U.S. District Court Judge Ron Clark handed down a hefty sentence of 171 months – over fourteen years – on February 21, 2017. The sentence reflects the violent nature of the crimes and the calculated risk Patterson took endangering bank employees and citizens.

The first robbery occurred on August 8, 2014, at the Cornerstone Credit Union in Lancaster. Patterson stormed the bank brandishing a pistol, vaulted over the teller counter, and strong-armed tellers into handing over $6,888.00. He didn’t stop there. Patterson made his escape in a stolen vehicle, abandoning it a few blocks away before disappearing on foot. The cash, and the stolen car, became central to his escalating criminal spree.

Nearly seven months later, on March 13, 2015, Patterson teamed up with co-defendant Chanel Collins. The pair drove from Wood County, Texas, to Tyler with a clear intention: to steal a car. Patterson, armed with a semiautomatic pistol, approached a woman visiting her mother at an apartment complex. He brandished the weapon and demanded her keys. Collins waited nearby, ready to facilitate the getaway. The stolen vehicle became Patterson’s ride for his next target.

Later that same day, Patterson used the stolen car to rob the 1st National Bank of Gilmer in Big Sandy, Texas. Collins positioned her vehicle at a nearby car wash while Patterson, again brandishing a pistol, climbed behind the teller counter and made off with $29,734.00. He then abandoned the stolen vehicle at the car wash and fled with Collins. The duo thought they’d gotten away with it, but law enforcement quickly closed in.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Rangers, Tyler Police Department, Big Sandy Police Department, and Lancaster Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble prosecuted the case, securing a conviction and a lengthy prison sentence for Patterson. The case serves as a stark reminder that violent crime will not be tolerated in East Texas, and those who commit such acts will face the full force of the law.