NEEDVILLE MAN SENTENCED FOR BANK ROBBERY

(Beaumont, TX) A 32-year-old Needville man has been sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for robbing a bank in the city of Orange this past August. THOMAS ANDREW SAWYER was sentenced today by United States District Judge Thad Hartfield.

According to information presented in court, on August 8, 2005, Sawyer walked into the bank and demanded money from the bank teller using a hand-written note. Another bank teller was able to get the license plate number of the truck Sawyer got into. Sawyer was arrested after striking a DPS vehicle and leading officers on a high speed chase before crashing into a commercial building. All of the money taken during the robbery was recovered. Sawyer pleaded guilty to the charges in November.

United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig was pleased with today's sentence, "Bank robbery is a serious crime, one that my office will always vigorously prosecute. I hope and trust that the Bank One employees will receive some closure and satisfaction from today's sentencing."

The case was investigated by officers with Orange Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Department of Public Safety, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Beaumont Police Department, Orange County District Attorneys Investigator and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dave Henderson prosecuted the case.