“Impatient” Bank Robber Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to a term of imprisonment of six years (72 months) to be followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction of bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Chief United States District Court Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Christian Elijah Moore, age 30.

According to information presented to the court, on September 5, 2017, Moore walked into the First National Bank in Homestead, PA and asked for change. While the teller was providing him with change, Moore placed his wallet on the counter and stated that his friend wanted him to give her a note. In the note, Moore threatened to shoot the teller if he she did not provide him with money.

The teller provided Moore with $1,055.00, as well as a GPS tracking device. As Moore was walking from the bank, he removed identifiable clothing and left the items in the bushes of the homes along his path. Officers later recovered the gray Adidas jacket that he was wearing during the bank robbery from the bushes of a home near the bank. He then walked to a jitney station and asked for a ride to Oakland. The jitney driver proceeded across the Homestead Grays Bridge. Moore observed Homestead police, who were alerted to the area by the GPS device, and instructed the jitney driver to make a U-turn and proceed to Hazelwood. After observing the vehicle make a U-turn, police stopped the vehicle. Officers recovered a loaded Kel-Tec semi-automatic .9mm pistol as well as the money and tracking device from Moore. Moore admitted that when he woke up that day, he decided to rob a bank because he needed money and did not like having to wait.

Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homestead Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Moore.