A Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a series of violent ATM thefts across the Eastern District of Texas, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Coby Stephon Williams, 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank theft. On December 11, 2025, U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan sentenced him to 57 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $89,032 in restitution.
Court documents indicate that between June 2020 and June 2024, Williams participated in what authorities described as “Hook and Chain” burglaries. The method involved stealing a truck, attaching hooks and chains to it, then dragging open ATM doors to access cash inside the machines. The crime spree included several burglaries throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area such as incidents at Texas Bank on South Preston Road in Prosper, BB&T on Legacy Drive in Frisco, and First United Bank in Pottsboro.
The conspiracy led to approximately $363,000 stolen and caused at least $250,000 in damages to ATMs and other property.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI along with the Fort Worth Police Department and Pottsboro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Johnson prosecuted the case.
