'Penguin bandit' sentenced for series of Denver metro bank robberies

DENVER (KDVR) — A man was sentenced on Oct. 17 for his role in five bank robberies across the Denver area after he pleaded guilty under a federal plea agreement.

Samuel Richard Ruthstrom, 42, was sentenced to 160 months (13.3 years) after he pleaded guilty under a federal plea agreement to five counts of bank robbery. According to the criminal complaint filed in Ruthstrom's case, he may have been implicated in more robberies.

“Robbing banks is not a career – it’s a series of crimes that will net you serious federal prison time. That is what this defendant learned once the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force tracked him down,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek in a release. "The FBI will continue to work with partners like the Denver Police Department and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers to identify and apprehend violent criminals.”

Ruthstrom earned the nickname the "penguin bandit" for his "very distinctive walk." The Metro Denver Crime Stoppers reported his distinct "waddle" back in January. Federal agents were able to connect Ruthstrom due to his stature and gait and also were able to connect him to the area of multiple robberies due to cellphone pings that could be triangulated from cellular towers.

Ruthstrom was accused of using the same technique in each robbery: He would provide a demand note to the teller while also verbally demanding money, then flee the scene on foot.

“The Denver Police Department is proud to see justice served in the case of this repeat offender,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “Partnerships between federal and local agencies are critical to stopping bank robberies and other violent crimes.”

In addition to the 160-month prison sentence, Ruthstrom was ordered to repay $3,365 in restitution and will be subject to three years of supervised release after his prison sentence.