Baltimore, Maryland – A Queen Anne’s County Couple’s Crime Spree Ends in Federal Prison
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has sentenced Matthew Dale Bush, 39, of Grasonville, Maryland, to 110 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit bank larceny, interstate transportation of stolen goods, and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, and for bank robbery and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to court documents, Bush and his wife, Crystal French, a/k/a “Crystal Lynn Bush,” 34, also of Grasonville, conspired to break into retail businesses in order to steal Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and the money contained inside. The couple used stolen vehicles to travel to and from the scenes of the crimes.
Between September 2017 and October 23, 2017, Bush and French stole six ATMs that contained over $38,900, and attempted to steal two other ATMs. They traveled to, and stole from, businesses in Stevensville, Maryland; Chester, Maryland; Kent County, Delaware; Sterling, Virginia; Broadlands, Virginia; Dover, Delaware; Stevensville, Maryland; and Cambridge, Maryland.
During one of the high-speed chases, the couple sped from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Delaware, putting the public and law enforcement at risk. Judge Bennett noted that Bush’s conduct was “alarmingly egregious” and that the chases “grossly endangered” the public and law enforcement.
Bush and French were ordered to pay restitution of $10,341.38. Bush was sentenced on December 11, 2018, and French was sentenced on December 12, 2018. The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Queen Anne’s County Sheriff Gary Hoffman.
The evidence recovered from Bush and French’s residence included tow straps used to pull the ATM machines from the stores; sledgehammers used to break the glass at the burglaries; masks and clothing worn by the suspects in the surveillance videos at the burglaries; the license plate to one of the stolen pickup trucks, cut into pieces; packaging for “walkie-talkies” used by Bush and French during some of the ATM burglaries; and a van containing several damaged ATM machines.
Bush is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous felony convictions, including 2010 convictions for assault and burglary related to a number of Delaware ATM burglaries. On October 22, 2017, Bush and French stole a pick-up truck in Kent County, Delaware.
Bush and French spent the proceeds of the crimes they committed on personal items, including heroin and other illegal narcotics. Bush and French married on October 14, 2017, during the crime spree.
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime