Staff report

BEAUMONT — Joseph Dee Carter, 39, of Beaumont was sentenced Thursday to federal prison for bank robbery in the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown said.

An issued statement said U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield imposed a sentence of 77 months in federal prison on Carter, who pleaded guilty Oct. 26.

According to information presented in court, Carter robbed the DuGood Federal Credit Union on Eastex Freeway in Beaumont on July 7. Surveillance video showed Carter entered the credit union lobby and then had a discussion with an employee about temporary checks. A few minutes later, the video shows Carter walking across the lobby to the restroom before returning to the teller counter and placing a note written on a paper towel on the counter in front of the teller, demanding money.

After receiving money from the teller, Carter fled the credit union and drove away. Police found the vehicle, but Carter had fled on foot.

Later that day, after having been identified by witnesses and examination of the video, Carter was arrested while walking on Lucas Street. A grand jury indicted him Aug. 9.

The FBI and Beaumont police investigated the case; Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall L. Fluke prosecuted it.