Ocala Woman Pleads Guilty To Bank Robbery

Ocala, Florda - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Christina Gates Thagard (40, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to bank robbery. Thagard faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 20, 2026.

According to court documents, on May 3, 2025, Thagard entered a bank in Marion County wearing a hat, hoodie, sunglasses, a surgical mask, and one latex glove. Thagard told the teller, "This is a robbery!" She instructed the teller to put the money in the bag and stated she had a gun and would use it if necessary. Thagard also handed the teller a note that read: "This is a robbery I have a gun and will shoot if any alarms or dye packs are inclosed [sic] fill this bag with all at least 50 k big bills only wait 2 mins to call police." The teller then placed all the cash from her drawer ($5,075) and a tracking device into Thagard's purse.

Thagard at the teller line during the robbery.

Based on the tracking device information, officers from the Ocala Police Department (OPD) quickly located Thagard and her vehicle. Inside the vehicle, recovered the cash from the bank, the tracking device, and the items Thagard had been wearing during the robbery. A forensic analysis later confirmed Thagard's fingerprint on the demand note as well as on a door inside the bank.

This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).