The Duct Tape Bandit is Kasey Graham Kazee, a Kentucky man who wrapped his entire head in gray duct tape during a botched August 2007 liquor store robbery in Ashland, was tackled in the parking lot before he could get away, and drew international attention for the failed disguise. He served a ten-year sentence, was released in 2014, robbed again that same year, drew a twelve-year sentence, and was paroled on August 1, 2025.1Kentucky Department of Corrections. Offender Details – Kasey G. Kazee
The 2007 Liquor Store Robbery
On August 10, 2007, Kazee, then 24, walked into Shamrock Liquors on 13th Street in Ashland, Kentucky. His head was wrapped in gray duct tape with small openings left for his eyes and mouth, and a t-shirt was tied around his face as an added layer.2NBC News. Suspect Wore Mask of Duct Tape in Kentucky Robbery He approached a clerk, gestured toward his waistband as though he had a weapon, and said, “Don’t make me kill you.”3The Daily Independent. Duct Tape Bandit Pleads Guilty He was unarmed. He got as far as two rolls of change.
Store manager Bill Steele grabbed a wooden club, itself wrapped in duct tape, and chased Kazee out of the store.4WIS TV. Duct Tape Bandit Attempts to Rob Kentucky Liquor Store Employee Craig Miller ran him down in the parking lot, tackled him, and held him in a chokehold until officers arrived; a customer helped restrain him.5Press Democrat. Police: Suspect Wore Mask of Duct Tape By then, most of the duct tape had already slid off Kazee’s face from sweat. Police confirmed he had no weapon.66ABC. Duct Tape Bandit Arrested in Kentucky Surveillance footage of the attempt was picked up by national outlets, and the nickname stuck.
The First Conviction
Kazee was initially charged with first-degree robbery and held on a $250,000 cash bond.5Press Democrat. Police: Suspect Wore Mask of Duct Tape The case moved to Boyd Circuit Court, where he also faced a persistent felony offender enhancement. On April 29, 2008, he took a plea: the robbery charge was reduced to second-degree robbery and the persistent felony offender count was dismissed. He pleaded guilty before Judge David Hagerman.7The Herald-Dispatch. Duct Tape Bandit Pleads Guilty On May 23, 2008, Hagerman sentenced him to ten years.8Fox News. Duct Tape Bandit Gets 10 Years in Prison for Foiled Robbery
The 2014 Robbery and Longer Sentence
Kazee was released earlier in 2014. In early December of that year, he was accused of robbing an Ashland businessman in downtown Ashland and charged again with first-degree robbery.9The Herald-Dispatch. Man Who Wrapped Face in Duct Tape Arrested Again After a two-day search, he turned himself in on December 14, 2014.
In April 2015, Kazee pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery; the persistent felony offender enhancement was again dropped in the deal.10The Daily Independent. Duct Tape Bandit Can’t Unravel Guilty Plea On May 8, 2015, Judge Hagerman sentenced him to twelve years. Because first-degree robbery is classified as a violent offense in Kentucky, Kazee had to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He was ordered to serve an additional two and a half years tied to the prior conviction, since he had been on probation when the 2014 robbery occurred.11The Daily Independent. Duct Tape Bandit Gets 12 Years He later tried to withdraw the plea; Hagerman refused, and the Kentucky Court of Appeals upheld that denial.
Where Kazee Is Now
According to the Kentucky Department of Corrections, Kazee was paroled on August 1, 2025. He is under supervision in District 15, based in Catlettsburg in Boyd County, with a scheduled supervision end date of December 29, 2027. His risk assessment is listed as moderate.1Kentucky Department of Corrections. Offender Details – Kasey G. Kazee
Copycats in Other States
The nickname has also been applied to unrelated suspects in later years, so a search result mentioning the “Duct Tape Bandit” is not always about Kazee.
In 2012, a suspect in Western Washington robbed four banks between May and August while wearing black duct tape over his nose. Unlike Kazee, he displayed a handgun and demanded cash in a white cloth bag, and he assaulted a customer and an employee during one of the holdups. A combined $8,000 reward was offered.12KOMO News. $8,000 Reward for Helping Capture the Duct Tape Bandit
On New Year’s Eve 2013, an armed robber taped over his face in a parking lot before holding up the North End Deli in Barre City, Vermont. It was the first of eight holdups targeting convenience stores, markets, and pharmacies in the Barre and Berlin area through early 2014, with the suspect eventually switching from gray to blue tape and, at one pharmacy, demanding OxyContin. Local businesses put up a $14,000 reward fund.13WPTZ. Is There a Duct Tape Bandit in Barre?14WPTZ. 8 Stores Robbed Since New Year’s Eve