Outback laptop thief agrees to plead guilty

TAMPA -- A man accused of stealing company laptops from Outback Steakhouse's parent company has agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges in federal court.

Eric Brandon Almly (left), 34, faces up to 10 years in federal prison after agreeing to plead guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property.

He pleaded not guilty to theft charges in state court and is scheduled for trial before a Hillsborough County judge on June 2.

The plea agreement was filed in Tampa federal court on Wednesday.

Authorities said Almly, dubbed the "Khaki Bandit,"  stole 11 laptops from cubicles at OSI Restaurant Partners Westshore Boulevard headquarters on March 28, 2007. He then sold the computers on eBay.

Investigators also say Almly stole laptops from the Miami headquarters of Burger King Corp. and FedEx Corp. He was dubbed the "Khaki Bandit" after a robbery spree in Milwaukee, and he's been pictured on "wanted" leaflets in central Colorado and accused of stealing from corporations in California.

Between January 2002 and April 2007, Almly sold more than $150,000 in stolen goods, according to federal court records.

Authorities say Almly pulled off his heists by trying to fit in among employees at the companies. He often wore khaki pants and a polo shirt and arrived clean cut. He spent time in common areas trying to blend in.

Detectives caught up with Almly last year at an apartment in Miami, where he was using the fanciest Outback laptop to get online and sell the others.

Previous coverage: Here's how a slick laptop thief was foiled in Tampa

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer

[Handout photo]