Last week, a man who authorities called the “Penguin Bandit”, was sentenced to over 13 years of federal prison after robbing several banks in the Denver area.
According to court documents, Samuel Richard Ruthstrom (42), entered into a plea deal with federal prosecutors early this year after robbing and trying to rob four banks within a short time. On Thursday, a judge sentenced Ruthstrom to 160 months of concurrent imprisonment for five counts of robbery. He also ordered him to undergo three years of supervision and pay thousands of dollars in restitution.
Matt Kirsch, U.S. attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch stated Monday that he supports such sentences because “repeat offenders pose a threat to our communities.”
A Ruthstrom attorney declined to comment, citing the office’s policy.
Denver Police Department worked with the FBI Task Force on this case to respond to Ruthstrom’s first robbery at Zing Credit Union on Jan. 2. According to a criminal complaint filed against Ruthstrom, he was wearing a ski mask when he demanded all of the money in the teller’s drawer that did not contain dye packs or tracer.
The complaint stated that Ruthstrom received $385 before fleeing.
In a ski mask, Ruthstrom went to a Canvas Credit Union branch on Jan. 8, and said “I want what you have in your drawer.” On that afternoon, he took $400 and fled.
The complaint stated that his third robbery occurred the following day at another Canvas Credit Union branch where he gave the teller a demand note for $10,000. The teller said that Ruthstrom activated the “distress” system in the cash dispenser, which gave out $400 in $20 bills and triggered a hold-up alert.
The complaint states that Ruthstrom requested more money. So, the teller repeated this process twice more and gave him $1,200 in total before he left.
Ruthstrom robbed two Wells Fargo branches on January 17 and 18. He also demanded that the tellers give him cash. In the note for the Jan. 18, robbery, the teller was asked to give him over $10,000 in 100-dollar bills.
The note said, “I don’t care if they are in all your drawers.” “Now hurry up and move as if your life depended on it because it does.”
The teller was afraid that Ruthstrom who had his hand inside his pocket might have a weapon, but told Ruthstrom repeatedly he couldn’t help him. Ruthstrom asked for the note to be returned, but the teller refused. Ruthstrom was left with no money.
On Jan. 19, a crime stopper alert was posted on social media referring to the robber by his nickname, the “Penguin Bandit,” due to his large build and distinct “waddle.”
🚨🐧 HELP @denverpolice IDENTIFY PenguinBandit 🐧🚨 Multiple bank robberies in January. White male, 35-45 yrs 5’11” – 6’1″, heavy build Distinct “waddle” 🚨 call 720.913.7867. anonymous & $$ rewards #SaferDenver #CrimeAlert #CrimeStoppers #MDCS pic.twitter.com/tUVnViRjpO
— MetroDenverCrimeStop (@CrimeStoppersCO) January 19, 2024
Just a few days later, investigators received a tip that named Ruthstrom. They discovered he had been released from parole for an earlier state burglary conviction. A member of the FBI task force who was part of the investigation compared the surveillance video taken during Ruthstrom’s trip to the parole office with the footage from the bank robbery.
A search warrant of Ruthstrom’s records showed that the phone had rung nearby cell towers during the robberies, and then left the area immediately following the robberies. The complaint stated that in four cases, Ruthstrom’s phone moved away from the banks to a treatment center he was required to attend as part of his probation.
The complaint stated that Ruthstrom’s Jeep Grand Cherokee had also been seen in the vicinity of one of the robberies.