Bank Robbery Suspects Get Long Prison Sentences
HOUSTON – A 21-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to 162 months in federal prison for his involvement in a brazen bank robbery that left a trail of destruction at a popular cemetery.
Terrance Trent Batiste was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, aiding and abetting aggravated bank robbery, and aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt.
According to investigators, the robbery took place on November 7, 2012, at approximately 12:00 p.m. at Amegy Bank on 1502 Eldridge Parkway in Houston. Batiste, along with co-defendants Kendrick Deswhan Castille, 20, and Joshua Demond Clay, 29, entered the bank wearing baseball hats. Batiste was armed with a dark-colored revolver, which was given to him by Castille before they entered the bank.
The suspects jumped over the teller counter and demanded money from the victim teller. They then fled the scene in their vehicle, leading police on a high-speed chase. The suspects eventually stopped at the Forest Park Cemetery, located at 12800 Westheimer in Houston, where they ran over and destroyed several tombstones. Clothing and hats worn by Batiste and Castille were recovered from the vehicle, along with a large amount of U.S. currency.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennie Basile. Two of Batiste’s co-defendants, Castille and Clay, have also pleaded guilty to the bank robbery and are awaiting sentencing.
The sentence handed down to Batiste is a significant blow to the suspects, who will now face a combined total of 240 months in prison. The investigation and subsequent prosecution serve as a warning to those who would engage in such violent and brazen crimes.
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