Samuel Ruthstrom Sentenced: The “Penguin Bandit” Faces Justice
A man known as the “Penguin Bandit,” Samuel Richard Ruthstrom, has been sentenced to over 13 years in federal prison for robbing multiple banks in the Denver area. The 42-year-old made a plea agreement with federal prosecutors after being charged with four bank robberies and an attempted robbery within a few weeks earlier this year.
On Thursday, a judge sentenced Ruthstrom to 160 months in prison to be served concurrently for five counts of bank robbery. He will also face three years of supervised release and is required to pay thousands of dollars in restitution.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Matt Kirsch, expressed strong support for such sentences, emphasizing that repeat offenders pose a significant threat to community safety.
Ruthstrom’s criminal activities began on January 2, when he robbed Zing Credit Union while wearing a ski mask. He handed the teller a note demanding cash without dye packs, fleeing with $385. Just days later, on January 8, he targeted another bank, Canvas Credit Union, making off with $400 after issuing a similar demand.
Authorities coordinated with an FBI task force to investigate the series of robberies, ultimately leading to Ruthstrom’s apprehension.