Robert Buckley Hardy, Bank Robbery, Utah 2025

Utah Man Charged in Bank Robbery

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - In a shocking turn of events, a Utah man has been accused of committing a brazen bank robbery in the state's capital.

Robert Buckley Hardy, 47, of Salt Lake County, Utah, was originally charged by complaint on February 7, 2025 and taken into custody.

According to court documents, Hardy entered a Chase Bank in Cottonwood Heights on January 30, 2025, at approximately 3:17 p.m. He allegedly handed the teller a manila envelope with several documents and left the bank. The documents referenced several United States and government actions regarding money laundering, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and corruption. One document also stated, “assume that this is an active bomb threat.” One document read, “I need $2001 for it to be considered a felony and get the un-kompromised FBI bank robbery division to respond.”

Hardy allegedly committed his second bank robbery on February 6, 2025, at approximately 2:04 p.m. at a Chase Bank in Salt Lake City. He allegedly told the teller it was a robbery and gave the teller various manila envelopes with documents inside and a typed note that read, “poor people steal because they are hungry. Rich people steal because they are greedy.” The note also said, “I need this evidence chain in the hands of the FBI bank robbery division and the local and federal police.” The note read, “please stuff at least $2001 into the bag for me. And make certain the FBI gets this.” The teller complied and gave Hardy $2001.00.

Surveillance footage from the investigation and a Utah Driver's License photo identified Hardy. He was taken into custody without incident.

Hardy is charged with bank robbery.

His initial appearance on the indictment is February 21, 2025, at 11:45 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.

Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.

Assistant United States Attorney Cosmos Esqueda of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/utah-man-accused-bank-robbery-custody