Bucks Co. 'Straw Hat Bandit' Convicted Of Bank Robberies

WRIGHTSTOWN, PA — A Bucks County man dubbed the Straw Hat Bandit for his elaborate disguises has been convicted on charges he robbed 11 banks, including one in Wrightstown.

Richard Boyle, 59, of Doylestown, was convicted by a federal jury on Friday for 11 bank robberies, 10 counts of using a firearm to commit the robberies and 10 counts of money laundering, federal authorities announced. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15.

During the 11 robberies, Boyle stole a total of $495,686, according to U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. One of those was the Sept. 28, 2012 robbery of the First Federal Bank at 803 Park Ave. in Wrightstown.

During his robberies, Boyle made careful plans to avoid being caught, prosecutors say. That included wearing elaborate disguises and gloves and even spreading bleach on the floor of banks to conceal his DNA.

Before some of his robberies, prosecutors say, Boyle tried to slow police response by calling in false reports, including a bomb threat at a country club, a claim of a planned attack on a mall and claiming there was a man with a gun at Temple University.

After the robberies, Boyle laundered the money he had stolen through his photography business, Sky Eye View.

"The defendant's conduct in this case was outrageous," McSwain said. "From robbing banks and holding innocent bank employees at gunpoint to calling in hoax threats to divert law enforcement resources and slow response time, Boyle had no regard for the safety of anyone in the community. He only cared about lining his own pockets with stolen cash. We are grateful that the jury held him accountable for his many crimes."

FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster noted that Boyle had been convicted of robbing banks eight and a half years ago. At the time he said he "wished he could've made better choices," but, after serving his prison sentence, he was soon robbing banks again, Harpster said.

Boyle was convicted of robbing the following banks:

• June 8, 2012 – Colonial American Bank; 300 Welsh Road - Horsham
• Sept. 28, 2012 – First Federal Bank; 803 Park Ave. - Wrightstown
• Jan. 18, 2013 – Wells Fargo Bank; 706 Stony Hill Road - Yardley
• March 30, 2013 – PNC Bank; 1015 South Bethlehem Pike - Ambler
• May 24, 2013 – Harleysville Savings Bank; 1889 East Ridge Pike - Royersford
• May 24, 2013 – Univest Bank; 4285 Township Line Road - Schwenksville
• Aug. 30, 2013 – Wells Fargo Bank; 25 West Skippack Pike - Ambler
• Jan. 2, 2014 – First Priority Bank; 10 Sentry Parkway - Blue Bell
• Jan. 6, 2015 – Wells Fargo Bank; 481 West Germantown Pike - Plymouth Meeting
• July 3, 2015 – Wells Fargo Bank; 1675 Limekiln Pike - Dresher
• July 2, 2016 – PNC Bank; 1216 Welsh Road - North Wales