Sacramento Man Dubbed the "Straw Hat Bandit" Pleads Guilty to Serial Bank Robberies

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that MICHAEL EDWARD OSGOOD, 47, of Sacramento, Calif., pleaded guilty this morning to three counts of bank robbery before United States District Court Judge Lawrence K. Karlton.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Roseville Police Department, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez, who is prosecuting the case, the task force dubbed the perpetrator the “Straw Hat Bandit” because OSGOOD wore large brim straw hats during his robberies. OSGOOD was arrested on June 9, 2008 after fleeing the robbery of the Sacramento U.S. Bank branch located at 3320 Arden Way. In addition to that robbery, he pleaded guilty to robbing the Sterlent Credit Union, 2648 Watt Ave., Sacramento, on May 12, 2008, and the U.S. Bank, 2808 County Club, Stockton, Calif. on June 4, 2008. As part of his plea agreement, OSGOOD admitted committing four additional robberies as follows:

Tri-Counties Bank, 4650 Natomas Blvd., Sacramento, Calif. on April 30, 2008, Wells Fargo Bank, 8870 Madison Ave., Fair Oaks, Calif. on May 16, 2008, Citibank, 436 Howe Ave., Sacramento, Calif. on May 21, 2008, and U.S. Bank, 5021 Laguna Blvd., Elk Grove, Calif. on May 24, 2008.

For each of his three bank robbery convictions, OSGOOD faces up to 20 years in prison, a three-year term of federal supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and an order of restitution. He also has agreed to pay restitution for amounts stolen during all seven of his bank robberies. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables and any applicable statutory sentencing factors.

OSGOOD is in custody until his sentencing on November 4, 2008.

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