SEATTLE — The “Harry Potter Bandit” has admitted to a string of bank robberies from last year.
Caleb Dierlam, 21, of Mill Creek, is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 26 in U.S. District Court in Seattle. He pleaded guilty to five counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, according to court records.
A federal bank robbery conviction can bring up to 20 years in prison.
Dierlam was accused of at least six bank robberies in Washington and Oregon. He hit branches in Everett, Lynnwood and Mount Vernon, often by passing notes to tellers.
The FBI had dubbed him the “Harry Potter Bandit” on a wanted poster, presumably because of his slight build, tousled hair and the use of glasses in some of his disguises. Dierlam also was known to work in hair dye, tanning products and a soul patch.
Prosecutors alleged that he netted more than $9,000 from the holdups.
That run came to an end when a customer at a Lynnwood Starbucks recognized Dierlam from the news and called police, who then figured out his name.
Dierlam had no criminal history before his Dec. 14, 2016, arrest. He was renting a room in Mill Creek from friends of his family, who live in Indiana.
As part of the plea this May, prosecutors agreed to recommend a shorter sentence.
Dierlam has been allowed to stay with his parents while his case continues. He has been working and attending community college in that time, according to court records.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.
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