Metro PCS Bandit McCain Gets 32 Years

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Christopher McCain, 27, of Anniston, Alabama, will spend the next 32 years in federal prison after being sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan. McCain faced the music for two counts of robbery and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime – a spree targeting Metro PCS stores across Jacksonville in January 2012.

Court records detail a brazen pattern of armed theft. McCain hit three separate Metro PCS locations, each time displaying a loaded .45 caliber pistol and making off with a total of $2,211. The robberies weren’t sophisticated; McCain’s downfall came thanks to the quick thinking of a Metro PCS employee who managed to snag the license plate number of his getaway car on January 28, 2012.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers moved swiftly. When they apprehended McCain that same day, he was still packing the heat – the loaded .45 caliber pistol – used in the robberies. It’s a stark reminder that these guys rarely ditch the weapon immediately, even after a chase. The JSO acted fast, and the feds followed through.

McCain pleaded guilty on July 3, 2014, avoiding a potentially longer sentence at trial. Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot handled the prosecution, building a solid case based on eyewitness testimony and the recovery of the weapon. The 32-year sentence sends a clear message: armed robbery won’t be tolerated in this district.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Daryl R. McCrary, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF, highlighted the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling violent crime in the region. This wasn’t just about catching one robber; it’s about disrupting a pattern of violence.

This case is part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program, a national initiative aimed at reducing gun violence. U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, is spearheading the effort in the Middle District of Florida, working alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement to get guns out of the hands of criminals and make our streets safer. This isn’t just about punishment, it’s about prevention. But for McCain, prevention came too late.