Richard Laurence Stewart, Bank Robbery, California 2015

In a string of brazen heists, a San Francisco resident has pleaded guilty to robbing four banks, earning him the nickname ‘Straw Hat Bandit.’

Richard Laurence Stewart, 52, pleaded guilty today to robbing four San Francisco banks, announced Acting United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson.

As part of the plea agreement, Stewart acknowledged his role in committing a string of additional bank robberies throughout San Francisco.

According to today’s plea agreement, Stewart admitted robbing San Francisco banks on May 12, 2015; May 13, 2015; October 14, 2015; and October 16, 2015. The agreement also describes Stewart’s robberies of an additional eight banks in San Francisco from October 27, 2014, through February 27, 2015.

The FBI was investigating the bank robberies of the so-called Straw Hat Bandit since October of 2014. The government documents describe the FBI’s investigation of the person who wore a number of different disguises during bank robberies, including glasses, hats, a black curly wig, a fake beard and mustache, and a single surgical glove.

Stewart eventually was identified as the bandit after a witness saw him leaving the scene of one of the robberies in a taxicab. Stewart was arrested on October 18, 2015, after authorities linked him to the taxicab request.

Stewart faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 on each of the bank robbery counts. Sentencing is scheduled to take place before the Honorable William Alsup on June 14, 2016.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shailika Kotiya with the assistance of Patricia Mahoney. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the San Francisco Police Department.

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