Bank robber whose mom was driver is sentenced

TULSA — A man who robbed a Tulsa bank in blackface to pay his court fines and fled using his mother as a getaway driver was sentenced to prison Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Claire Eagan sentenced Christopher Lee Caskey, 33, to serve seven years in prison after ruling in favor of a request for a reduced term.

Caskey was arrested Dec. 13 on complaints of robbery with a firearm after a felony conviction, false report of a crime, bomb threat and escape from arrest.

Authorities say Caskey walked into the Arvest branch at 4825 E. 46th St. earlier the same day of his arrest and approached the teller counter with a semiautomatic pistol, which was later revealed to be a pellet gun.

Caskey, who is white, had painted his face black prior to entering the bank, ordering tellers to empty cash from drawers into a pillowcase, all while waving the pellet gun.

Prior to robbing the bank, Caskey called Patrick Henry Elementary School to make a bomb threat and called police about a false kidnapping and car theft, in hopes of distracting authorities.

Following the robbery, police tracked Caskey through a satellite tracking device that had been placed with the money taken from the bank.

Caskey was arrested after a vehicle driven by his mother was stopped off U.S. 412, near the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, police said at the time.

Inside the car, police found what was described as a “large amount” of money, makeup, sunglasses and clothing worn in the robbery.

Caskey told police he needed money to pay court fines, attorney fees and items for his 7-month-old baby.

A federal grand jury indicted Caskey on Jan. 10 on one bank robbery count. He pleaded guilty to the bank robbery charge April 6.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Johnston argued for a prison term in a higher sentencing range, 92 months to 115 months.

In this case, Johnston said, Caskey’s use of his mother as a getaway driver exposed her to “extensive danger.”

“This was a terrifying robbery for everyone involved,” Johnston said.

Rather, Eagan granted a request filed on behalf of Caskey that he be sentenced from a lower range of punishment, 84 months to 105 months.

In granting the variance from the sentencing guidelines, Eagan cited Caskey’s medical diagnosis that included bipolar disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and depressive disorder.

Caskey, who also admitted to abusing alcohol and illegal drugs, told Eagan on Thursday that he considered his arrest a “blessing.”

Caskey will also have to serve five years of supervised release upon his release from prison.

Johnston declined to comment as to why Caskey’s mother was not charged.