Longview Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery

TYLER – A 32-year-old Longview man has been sentenced in Tyler to eight years and nine months in federal prison for bank robbery. Officials say Christian Drew Ponce pleaded guilty Apr. 9. Ponce was also ordered to pay restitution of $11,620. Officials say Ponce and three co-defendants devised and executed a scheme on August 11, 2014, to rob the Austin Bank inside the Bar K Ranch store in Longview. Ponce was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 27, 2014. Following sentencing, Ponce was immediately taken into custody by U.S. Marshals.