United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky
05/15/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/15/2026 13:56
Houston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge for Burglarizing ATM in Hardin County
Louisville, KY - A Houston, Texas, man pled guilty yesterday to burglarizing a Hardin County bank's ATM and stealing over $48,000.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Jeremy Thompson of the Elizabethtown Police Department made the announcement.
Jesse Kayembe, 26, of Houston, Texas, and others working with him, stole a truck in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Kayembe drove the stolen truck to the WesBanco Bank in Elizabethtown, hooked it to the ATM, and drove forward, ripping open the ATM door and vault. Kayembe and another individual took the cash drawers from the ATM, resulting in a loss to the bank of over $48,000.
Kayembe pled guilty to one count of bank larceny. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Additionally, Kayembe will be required to pay restitution.
United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner stated, "Across the country banks have unfortunately been the victims of numerous incidents where criminals ripped open ATMs and stole cash. These crimes cause significant economic harm and disruption to banks and their customers. Our office will simply not stand for this brazen criminality. I commend our law enforcement partners for catching this criminal."
FBI Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson said, "Financial institutions are a vital part of the American way of life. When reckless criminals steal from banks to feed their personal greed, it not only causes disruption and damage to the business, but also puts bank customers and innocent bystanders in harm's way. The FBI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners every day to keep our communities safe."
Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson stated, "This conviction and sentencing is an incredible example of collaboration between local and federal law enforcement. Intelligence led policing allowed us to know the suspects were in our area committing crimes. This should send a message to criminals everywhere; crime will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth of Kentucky."
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Louisville Field Office and the Elizabethtown Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.
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