Suspects charged in string of violent bank robberies

Houston robbery ring busted

In 2015, 23 suspects were accused in a string of violent bank robberies and other incidents throughout northeast Houston. This week, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced that two more suspects were convicted for their crimes.

See what's happened in their cases so far. less Houston robbery ring busted

In 2015, 23 suspects were accused in a string of violent bank robberies and other incidents throughout northeast Houston. This week, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced that two ... more Photo: Houston Police Photo: Houston Police Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Suspects charged in string of violent bank robberies 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

Twenty-three people have been accused in a string of violent and sophisticated bank robberies and other incidents in recent months in the Houston area and beyond.

Of those, 22 have been arrested and one remains at large, police said Tuesday.

The bank robbery investigation began about nine months ago but got a boost in July, when someone provided information through a Crime Stoppers tip, officer Adam Bock of the Houston Police Department said at a news conference.

"We depend on support from the public," he said.

In one case, Keith McGee, 24, is a suspect in a July 28, 2014, robbery at Shared Resources Credit Union in Pasadena. Four other men, ranging in age from 22 to 34, have been arrested in that incident, police said at a news conference at HPD headquarters.

Three other robberies at separate branches of JPMorgan Chase Bank, which allegedly involved different members of the group, took place April 15 in Houston, June 27 in Conroe, and July 16 in Fort Bend County.

Not just bank robberies

Other crimes the group allegedly participated in include jewelry store "smash and grabs" as well as two Houston incidents of "bank jugging" on Sept. 8 and Sept. 15, police said. In bank jugging, would-be robbers follow customers as they leave the bank and either rob them in person or burglarize their cars later for the cash inside.

The organized group of suspects, whose members grew up in the same area and spent time together, police say, was known to operate as far away as Nacagdoches, Livingston and Brenham, Bock said. One person was arrested in Lafayette, La., but the group is not believed to have committed a crime there, he said.

Police said the robberies were sophisticated and involved several suspects armed with guns and the use of multiple vehicles for each incident, including some stolen vehicles. Many of the heists were very violent, with suspects shooting at people, including gunfire that narrowly missed a 4-year-old child inside a bank on one occasion. Some people were injured.

Multi-agency effort

The investigation is continuing with help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, he said.

The cases are being investigated by the HPD, along with the Pasadena Police Department, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Rangers division of the Department of Public Safety, and the district attorneys of Harris and Montgomery counties.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force are also assisting.

Police said other possible suspects are being sought in the case. Many of the suspects face multiple felony charges.

Anyone with information about the robberies or other possible suspects is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.