Lawrence Ripple's Unusual Bank Robbery

In 2016, 70-year-old Lawrence Ripple of Kansas committed an unusual bank robbery, not for profit or notoriety but as an attempt to escape his wife following an argument. After handing a bank teller a note claiming he had a gun, he calmly accepted the money and waited in the lobby for security to arrive. Subsequently, he surrendered to the security guard and was promptly arrested.

Initially sentenced to probation, community service, a fine, and six months in prison, Ripple's attorney and prosecutors advocated for leniency due to his remorse, health issues, and low likelihood of reoffending. Consequently, U.S. District Court Judge Carlos Murguia sentenced Ripple to six months of home confinement with his wife, followed by three years of supervised probation, 50 hours of community service, and financial restitution.