Serial Armed Bank Robber Sentenced To More Than 25 Years After Attempting To Murder Pennsylvania State Trooper During Arrest

 The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia released the below information:

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Christopher Larue, 44, of Lansdale, PA, was sentenced to 25 years and one day in prison, five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $7,500 fine by United States District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter for committing an armed bank robbery in Bucks County and then nearly killing a Pennsylvania State Trooper in Montgomery County directly thereafter.

In October 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of armed bank robbery. According to court documents, in the early morning hours of October 19, 2020, Larue entered QNB Bank in Perkasie, PA, wearing dark clothing and a black mask as employees were arriving for work. The defendant brandished a firearm and robbed the bank of over $11,000 in U.S. currency. He then fled in his vehicle. A GPS tracking devices hidden with the stolen money quickly led Pennsylvania State Police to the defendant, who had driven to his job site in Conshohocken, PA. When the State Police arrived and attempted to arrest him, Larue pointed a gun at the head of a trooper and pulled the trigger, but the gun mis-fired and troopers were able to handcuff Larue. In and around the defendant’s work locker, investigators found the stolen money, additional ammunition, and the clothing and mask Larue wore during the robbery.

Larue previously served over 12 years in federal prison after being convicted in 2009 of five additional bank robberies and was on supervised release at the time of this offense.

“This sentencing is especially poignant during a week when we have lost two Pennsylvania State Troopers who were bravely executing their duty in the face of extreme danger,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “In this case, the defendant acted with complete disregard and callousness for the lives of the Pennsylvania State Troopers and the bank employees whom he threatened with a firearm. But for a mis-fired gun, the outcome could have been yet another tragic loss of life. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate this kind of violent lawlessness.”

“Christopher Larue aimed a loaded gun at a state trooper’s head, asked him if he wanted to die that day, and repeatedly pulled the trigger. It was very nearly a tragedy, but thankfully the weapon didn’t fire,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “That was just after Larue had held three bank employees at gunpoint during a robbery — and that was after a previous string of bank robberies for which he’d served time. This is a dangerous serial offender who needs to be off the street. The FBI will continue working with the Pennsylvania State Police and all our law enforcement partners to keep violent criminals like Larue from committing further harm.”

The case was investigated by the Perkasie Borough Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan.

Philadelphia Man Charged With Kidnapping And Robbery of Postal Workers

 The U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Pennsylvania released the below information:

PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that James Chandler, 54, of Philadelphia, PA, was arrested and charged by Indictment with two counts of robbery of a United States Postal Service employee, and one count of kidnapping. The defendant made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon and was detained pending trial.

The Indictment alleges that on January 11, 2021 and February 4, 2021, Chandler robbed uniformed postal workers during the execution of their official duties delivering parcels in West Philadelphia, using a replica handgun, forcing them into their postal trucks, and stealing packages from inside. During the incident on February 4, the defendant is also alleged to have forced the postal worker at gunpoint to drive him for several blocks in her postal truck before fleeing on foot.

“Targeting and violently assaulting employees of the United States Postal Service is a federal crime that will be investigated and prosecuted swiftly by this office,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Mail carriers provide an essential service to nearly every citizen, oftentimes going above and beyond to execute their duties in challenging circumstances. If you choose to kidnap or rob a mail carrier, I guarantee you will feel the full force of the federal government come down on you in the form of intense investigation and aggressive prosecution.”

“Today, the United States Attorney’s Office charged James Chandler for assaulting two postal carriers while they delivered mail in the City of Philadelphia,” said Damon Wood, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division. “While the carriers went about their job, delivering the many items that residents of the city depend upon, including medications, bills, benefits, and all the other items that help folks manage through this cold snowy winter and the pandemic a little easier, Mr. Chandler kidnaped them with what looked like a gun, and ransacked their postal trucks, looking for items he thought he could sell for a few dollars. Working closely with Detectives from the Philadelphia Police Department, Postal Inspectors developed enough evidence to identify and arrest Mr. Chandler before he could assault another carrier or another citizen of Philadelphia. I want to thank the United States Attorney’s Office for supporting the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Postal Service with this arrest. The United States Postal Inspection Service has many priorities, but it should surprise no one, that pursuing those who rob or assault Postal Service employees are at the top of the list.”

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Oshana.

An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.