More charges filed against ‘AK-47 bandit’ suspect

Federal charges have been filed in Nebraska against a man suspected of being the “AK-47 bandit,” accused of robbing banks in five states. Richard Gathercole is accused of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle and stolen firearms in a complaint filed Thursday in federal court in Lincoln. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Friday from The Associated Press. FBI officials believe Gathercole is “the AK-47 bandit,” who’s robbed banks in California, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska and Washington. Court documents say Gathercole was arrested June 20 near Lexington, Nebraska. A sheriff’s deputy had spotted a pickup there that Kansas authorities had reported stolen by a man who fired at but missed a state trooper. A Nebraska prosecutor says state charges were dropped Thursday because of near duplication with the federal counts.