Three people were recently sentenced to prison for their roles in a 2015 bank robbery, kidnapping and hostage situation, said U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

  • Taylor Crisman, 19, of Galion, was sentenced to 37 years in prison.
  • Chris Hill, 24, of Galion, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
  • Sarah J. Garrett, 42, of Bucyrus, was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison.

Crisman broke into the home of the manager of the KeyBank branch in Ontario and held his family hostage at gunpoint on Nov. 5, 2015. The manager came home later that evening and was also held hostage overnight, according to court documents and testimony.

On the morning of November 6, 2015, Crisman, in consultation with Hill, ordered the manager to travel to the bank on Lexington-Springmill Road, remove a large sum of money from the vault and return home. The suspect held the bank employee’s wife and small children hostage until he returned home with the money, according to court documents and testimony. Crisman then notified Hill to pick him up from home, which he did. Crisman, Hill and Garrett counted the money later that evening, according to court documents and testimony.

Garrett worked at Marion County Family Court. She used her position to improperly search the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway and provide the robbers with the address of the bank manager, according to court documents and testimony.

“These defendants deserve every single day of these prison sentences,” Rendon said. “They terrorized an innocent family all for greed. The victims in this case are to be commended for the bravery and grace they showed in court today and in the aftermath of this unprovoked attack.”

“We are very pleased with the sentences given to these defendants today,” Anthony said. “The FBI hopes these lengthy prison sentences send a clear message to anyone considering committing such heinous acts — think again and don’t do it.”

The defendants stole $194,845 from the bank. Authorities recovered $171,058. U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent ordered the defendants to pay the remaining $23,787 in restitution.

Crisman and Hill were found guilty of bank robbery, kidnapping, hostage taking and brandishing a firearm in relation to commission of a felony, among other crimes. Garrett pleaded guilty to receipt of ransom money and misprision of a felony.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Linda Barr and Benedict Gullo following an investigation by the FBI, the Ontario Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.

Source: US Department of Justice: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio

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