BEAUMONT, Texas — A 65-year-old Houston man was sentenced to federal prison this week for a 2023 Beaumont bank robbery.
Michael Raymond Karras, 65, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In January 2023, Karras robbed the Chase Bank on Eastex Freeway in Beaumont.
Minutes after the robbery police found him at a convenience store wearing a trench coat according to the release.
Before the late afternoon robbery, Karras was seen at another Beaumont bank, according to a probable cause affidavit. The president of the Prosperity Bank told police he saw Karras "acting suspiciously" and decided to follow him.
The Prosperity Bank president followed Karras to Chase Bank, later seeing Karras leave the scene in a Toyota. He was able to tell police the Toyota’s license plate number.
When he was caught, Karras gave officers permission to search the vehicle and when they did they found $2,870 in cash and the handwritten note he used during the robbery the release said.
A bank teller told police after the robbery that Karras walked into the bank wearing a black trench coat, gray scully cap and a surgical mask, according to the affidavit.
The teller told police Karras gave her a note that said, “Give me all your money. Don't do anything stupid." In fear for her safety and the safety of others in the bank, the teller did what Karras wanted.
Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. told 12News at the time that Karras was out on parole in connection with a previous bank robbery in San Antonio when the Beaumont robbery took place.
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