United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

MAN DUBBED THE “LEPRECHAUN BANDIT”
PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT

FORT WORTH, Tx. – Richard Earl Kemp, 27, of Fort Worth, pled guilty today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Kemp pled guilty to two counts of bank robbery and faces a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14, 2007, by U.S. District Judge John H. McBryde.

Between April 2007 and June 2007, Richard Earl Kemp committed numerous bank robberies in Texas, all in a similar manner. Generally, Kemp would show a demand note to the victim tellers, demanding certain denominations of cash. The demand note typically would also contain a threat of bodily injury if the teller did not comply with Kemp’s request, such as the phrase, “cooperate and no one gets hurt.” The bank robber was dubbed the “Leprechaun Bandit” because in one of the surveillance photos, he appears to be wearing a baseball cap featuring a shamrock and a leprechaun.

On April 2, 2007, Kemp entered Compass Bank, located at 2016 W. Rosedale Street in Fort Worth. He walked up to a bank teller and handed over a note which stated, “I need 100's, 50's, 20's, and 10's. No bottom bills, marked bills or dye packs. Co-operate and no one gets hurt.” Kemp told the teller to give him the money, and fearful for her safety, the teller complied with the demand and gave Kemp cash from her cash drawer.

On April 5, 2007, Kemp entered the Washington Mutual Bank, located at 6333 Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth. He approached a bank teller and demanded money. Kemp handed the teller a note which stated something to the effect of the robber wanting 100's, 50's, and 20's along with the word “hurt”. Fearful for her safety, the teller complied with the demand and gave Kemp cash from her cash drawer.

Richard Earl Kemp also stipulates and admits that he committed the following bank robberies:

● April 16, 2007 Wells Fargo Bank
1661 South University Drive

● June 5, 2007 Washington Mutual Bank
6333 Camp Bowie Boulevard

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the excellent investigative efforts of the Fort Worth Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lewis.

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