“Shaggy Bandit” and Accomplice Charged in Federal Court with Bank Robbery

United States Attorney David Gaouette and FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis announced today that Michael Alan Kincade, age 29, and Christopher Lee Richardson, age 45, both from Commerce City, Colorado, have been charged by Criminal Complaint with two counts of bank robbery. The FBI called Kincade the “Shaggy Bandit” because of his resemblance to a cartoon character from the show Scooby-Doo. Both men are in custody, and appeared in U.S. District Court in Denver this afternoon, where they were advised of the charges pending against them. A detention and preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix.

The Criminal Complaint alleges that on June 24, 2009, the two defendants robbed the Community Banks of Colorado, located at 277 Broadway in Denver. It also alleges that they robbed a Wells Fargo Bank located at 3900 Wadsworth Blvd. in Wheat Ridge on August 7, 2009. The affidavit in support of the complaint states that law enforcement suspects the defendants were involved in a total of 17 bank robberies in four states. The investigation continues.

If convicted, the defendants face not more than 20 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine, per count. They also could be ordered to pay restitution.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force. The task force includes the FBI, the Aurora Police Department, the Colorado State Patrol, the Denver Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Protective Service. The FBI would also like to acknowledge the Boulder Police Department, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, and the Longmont Police Department for their work on this case.

The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dave Conner.

A Criminal Complaint is a probable cause charging document. Anyone accused of committing a felony violation of federal law has a Constitutional right to be indicted by a federal grand jury.

The charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.