MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Richard Chapman, 66, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 96 months in prison for bank robbery. Chapman pleaded guilty to this charge on June 26, 2023.
On February 3, 2023, Chapman robbed the Park Bank in downtown Madison by presenting the teller with a note saying “I have a gun. I am a robber. Give me one hundreds.” He held his hand inside a plastic bag which led the teller to believe that he had a gun. After being given money, the defendant fled the bank. Madison detectives were able to follow Chapman’s movements by watching city cameras and found clothing that he had discarded in a nearby parking garage. Further investigation led detectives to the defendant, who after initially lying about his name and trying to run, was taken into custody and said, “You got me.” Officers searched Chapman’s duffle bag and found clothing consistent with the robber’s as well as a robbery note.
Chapman has a criminal record that started in 1975 when he was 18 years old. He was convicted in federal court for bank robberies in 1996 and 2001. He was sentenced to 70 months in prison and 188 months in prison for those offenses.
At sentencing Judge Peterson observed that Chapman terrorized the person that he robbed and created a dangerous situation in the bank. Judge Peterson remarked that Chapman has an unmatched record of recidivism and concluded that he has shown that he will continue to commit crimes and therefore must be incarcerated to protect the community.
The charge against Chapman was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
