A Houston man is headed to federal prison after authorities say he helped drive a years-long, multi-state theft ring that leaned on "hook-and-chain" break-ins and coordinated bank hits from Texas to Arizona.
Prosecutors say the conspiracy ran from June 2020 through June 2024 and targeted community banks and small retailers across both states, including a violent break-in at a bank in Prosper. Federal officials say the scheme racked up substantial losses and triggered a sprawling, multiagency investigation that has now come to a close.
According to MyTexasDaily, 27-year-old Cody Williams pleaded guilty on April 15 to conspiracy to commit bank theft. That same day, U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan handed down a 60-month sentence. Court filings reviewed by the outlet show prosecutors are seeking about $71,639 in restitution and allege the broader conspiracy caused more than $400,000 in losses. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson, the outlet reports.
Federal Task Force Push
Prosecutors told the court that Williams’s case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Justice Department initiative that concentrates federal muscle on violent and organized criminal networks. The effort has driven coordinated crackdowns across multiple Texas districts, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas.
How Investigators Say The Ring Operated
Investigators from the FBI, the Fort Worth Police Department and the Pottsboro Police Department say the crew relied on "hook-and-chain" burglaries, a tactic in which thieves smash doors or display fronts, then use tools to yank out merchandise or get to cash. The group is accused of then moving or laundering the proceeds across state lines.
One episode detailed in court records involves a Texas Bank branch on South Preston Road in Prosper, where authorities allege the ring struck as part of its broader spree, according to MyTexasDaily.
Sentence And What Comes Next
At sentencing, prosecutors highlighted the federal push to dismantle theft crews that cross state lines and hit small banks and neighborhood shops hardest. Williams is set to be transferred to the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his 60-month term. He will remain on the hook for restitution and supervised release conditions tied to the judgment, priorities the Justice Department has emphasized in its Operation Take Back America materials.
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