United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

MAN DUBBED THE “LEPRECHAUN BANDIT”
SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

FORT WORTH, Texas — Richard Earl Kemp, 27, of Fort Worth, who pled guilty in August to two counts of bank robbery, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Judge John McBryde, to 168 months (14 years) in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Judge McBryde also ordered that Kemp pay $5099 in restitution.

Between April 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 didn’t 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 appeared to be wearing a baseball cap featuring a shamrock and a leprechaun.

On April 2, 2007, Kemp entered Compass Bank, at 2016 W. Rosedale Street in Fort Worth and walked up to a 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, at 6333 Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth. He approached a teller and demanded money, handing the teller a note which stated something to the effect that the robber wanted 100's, 50's, and 20's - along with the word “hurt.” Fearful for her safety, she complied with the demand and gave Kemp cash from her cash drawer.

Richard Earl Kemp also admitted 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 was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lewis.

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