Jesse Kayembe, Bank Larceny, Kentucky 2026
ATM Burglary: Man Steals Over $48,000 from Hardin County Bank
A brazen crime has shaken the community of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, as a Houston man pled guilty to burglarizing a local bank's ATM and stealing over $48,000. The incident occurred in Hardin County, where Jesse Kayembe, 26, of Houston, Texas, and his accomplices stole a truck in Elizabethtown and used it to rip open the ATM door and vault at WesBanco Bank.
According to the U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner, the crime caused significant economic harm and disruption to the bank and its customers. The office will not stand for this brazen criminality and commends the law enforcement partners for catching the criminal.
The investigation was led by the FBI Louisville Field Office and the Elizabethtown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case. Kayembe is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., where a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kayembe pled guilty to one count of bank larceny. He will also be required to pay restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. The conviction and sentencing serve as a message to criminals everywhere that crime will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson stated that financial institutions are a vital part of the American way of life, and when reckless criminals steal from banks, it causes disruption and damage to the business and puts bank customers and innocent bystanders in harm's way. The FBI will continue to work alongside law enforcement partners to keep communities safe.
Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson added that the conviction and sentencing are an incredible example of collaboration between local and federal law enforcement. Intelligence-led policing allowed them to know the suspects were in their area committing crimes.
Defendant: Jesse Kayembe, 26, of Houston, Texas.
Criminal Charge: One count of bank larceny.
City and State: Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
Date: Not specified.
Amount Stolen: Over $48,000.
Sentence: Scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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